Fundamental Analysis
A little bearish news first, sugar beet farmers in the Red River Valley, ND have seen record rainfall recently. Harvest begins this week for only about 10% of the acreage in order to prime the factories for American Crystal Sugar Company.
American Crystal is expecting 420,000 acres of beets with an average of 23.5 tons per acre versus the long-term average of 20 tons per acre and the record of 25 tons per acre in 2006. The recent record rainfall will enhance the potential for increased tonnage when the full harvest starts on October 1.
Even with a 80,000 acre shortfall from last year, American Crystal will still be at maximum capacity. They can only handle between 10 and 11 million tons in its 5 factories, and still finish their campaign before the summer of 2009. Last year they sold beets to another processor and the year before they left 8% in the field due to it being to much.
Indonesian Agriculture Minister
Indonesian Agriculture Minister, Anton Apriyantono admitted to an error in the refined sugar inventory. Anton admitted that there was an oversupply of refined sugar in the country due to sugar consumption miscalculations. Instead of a shortfall of 200,000 tons they have a glut of 400,000 tons.
Now for the bullish news, hurricane Gustav devastates some Jamaican sugar cane fields. The industry is likely to lose $4.2 million in the next crop year. The 2008 production was already under estimates and now with Gustav damaging 2009 will even be weaker.
Czarnikow, a sugar merchant, sees tighter global 2008/09 sugar supply. Czarnikow forecast global sugar output would fall by 8 million tons to 164.1 million in 2008/09. Largely due to a drop in India production. Underlining stronger demand, the merchant projected global sugar consumption would rise to 166.4 in 2009 from 161.6 in 2008 and 155.2 in 2007.
Hurricanes can have a huge impact on the domestic sugar market. With Florida's 2007 season below 2006 by 63,000 tons. If a major hurricane impacts the South Florida area, the 2008/09 season will fall short of the recent estimates.
Once again, the emerging markets are play a large role in consumption. For example Ethiopia used to use honey to sweeten there coffee, and they are now using sugar. If this continues, the 9.4 million surplus will be diminished considerably. The forecasted shortfall for sugar now stands at 3.3 million, but the fundamentals may prove differently.
Of course we can not forget the ethanol tie in with sugar. If major hurricanes continue to line up and threaten the Gulf States, crude will eventually rise to record levels again. Which will increase the sugar prices. I for one, believe sugar consumption will be the driving force for the next year or so.
Technical Analysis
The March 2009 has formed an ascending triangle. Volume has stayed steady since July. The past few days we have seen increased volume. Sugar is testing the trend line from June and July lows. If we break this trend line sugar will see the major trend line starting back from August of 2007. The 200 day moving average is at the 1355 level which would show the next support. Resistance is at the 1550 level after testing three previous times. It will take a lot of momentum to break but with the higher volume we should see a break before March 09.
Trade Recommendation
Bull call spread for the downside protection. Buy the March 09 1600 call and sell the March 09 2000 call for 60 points or $672.00.
Buy the straight call option, no downside protection. Recommend buy the March 09 1800 call for 55 points or $616.00
Selling options is another recommendation please contact me to discuss recommendation.
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To contact Jimmy Tintle email is jimmy@transworldfutures.com or reach him by phone at 1-877-843-4519. Transworld Futures offers a wide variety of trading tools, webinars, and simulated trading. We also various types of accounts from deep discount online trading to managed futures, and FOREX accounts.
