DENVER — Ongoing uncertainty about the direction of international trade policy is clouding the outlook for U.S. grain elevators and merchandisers, CoBank analysts note, adding that the lack of clarity surrounding tariffs with key U.S. trading partners like China has pulled new-crop sales well below historical averages. Many foreign buyers have reduced forward coverage and are buying in the spot market, complicating the picture for elevators and merchandisers that are heavily reliant on export demand.
According to a new research brief from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, the longer the uncertainty continues to drag on sales of new-crop. . .