About The Author

Jack Scoville

Jack Scoville is an often quoted market analyst in the grain and soft commodities sectors. You will find his commentary throughout the Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Bloomberg, and Barron's publications. Contact Mr. Scoville at (312) 264-4322

COTTON
General Comments: Cotton was lower on profit taking after the reaction to the USDA reports seen on Tuesday. The USDA WASDE reports that showed production of 13.214 million bales. US ending stocks were estimated at 3.60 million bales, from 4.60 million last month. World stocks were estimated at 73.9 million bales, from 77.3 million last month. Better weather is expected for the Delta and Southeast for the coming week as crop condition reports were mostly unchanged. The weekly export sales report showed weak demand once again, but demand was improved for the week. The economic news on Friday of weaker than expected jobs data from the Commerce Dept for the recent quarter caused the stock market and crude oil and grains to sell off. There are still reports of hotter and drier weather in West Texas. There are still ideas that growing conditions are generally good. There are still reports of better weather in Texas and into the Southeast and demand concerns caused by the tariff wars are still around. It is starting to turn dry in west Texas again, however. Condition is rated behind last year. The monsoon in India is good and a good production there is possible.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in Cotton are mixed. Support is at 65.90, 64.30, and 63.00 December, with resistance of 68.50, 69.90 and 69.50 December.

DJ U.S. Export Sales: Weekly Sales Totals-Aug 14
For the week ended Aug 7, in thousand running bales. Net changes in commitments are gross sales,
less cancellations, buy-backs and other downward adjustments. Total commitments are total export shipments plus total sales. Source: USDA
wk’s net chg total
in commitments commitments undlvd sales
this yr next yr this yr last yr this yr next yr
upland cotton 242.0 1.1 3127.4 4212.6 2984.8 217.1
pima cotton 2.1 0.0 93.1 75.3 81.1 0.0

FCOJ
General Comments: Futures were lower yesterday on reports of freezing temperatures in production areas of Brazil, the major exporter of FCOJ to the US and the world, faded from the headlines and temperatures there turned more moderate. Trends are turning up on the daily charts. Selling was seen in response to news that President Trump had decided to remove OJ from the punishing tariffs on Brazil it announced earlier in the year. So, the actions by the president have created major highs and lows in the market. Development conditions are good in Florida now with daily rounds of showers. The poor production potential for the crops comes from weather but also the greening disease that has caused many Florida and closed near the lows of the week producers to lose trees.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in FCOJ are mixed. Support is at 223.00, 216.00, and 207.00 September, with resistance at 257.00, 272.00, and 283.00 September.

COFFEE
General Comments: New York and London were both lower yesterday, with New York posting the losses even with reports of freezing temperatures near Coffee areas of Brazil. Loss reports were not confirmed. Robusta is still more available to the market and with Brazil looking for new markets not in the US for its Coffee due to the US tariffs imposed on imports from Brazil. Arabica has been weaker recently also on the current good weather in Brazil. Prices had been dropping for several weeks and are much more moderate than before as supplies available to the market have ticked up. The Brazil Robusta harvest continues, and Indonesia continues to harvest. Vietnam is done with its harvest and domestic price were firm last week. The Brazil Arabica harvest is near the end and is expected to be less this year.
Overnight News: The ICO average price is 279.99 ct/lb.
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are up. Support is at 310.00, 299.00, and 284.00 September, and resistance is at 331.00, 334.00 and 339.00 September. Trends in London are up. Support is at 3620, 3530, and 3440 September, with resistance at 4030, 4140, and 4390 September.

SUGAR
General Comments: New York was a little lower and London was a little higher yesterday in consolidation trading. Ideas are that the losses from a Brazil freeze could be significant. Temperatures are moderating now. There were ideas of less European production this year that could rally prices later in the year but have drawn no interest so far. Pakistan has issued a new international tender earlier in the week to buy 100,000 tons of White Sugar. Ideas of good supplies for the market from good growing conditions for cane and beets around the world continue. The South Center Brazil harvest is faster now amid drier conditions. Production in Center-South Brazil has also been strong. Good growing conditions are reported in India and Thailand after a fast start to the Monsoon season. Good rains are still reported in Thailand. Sugar prices in Brazil are now cheap enough that at least some refiners could increase ethanol production and cut back on Sugar production. However, the total recovered Sugar juice has been less in Brazil this year.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are mixed. Support is at 1600, 1540, and 1500 October and resistance is at 1700, 1730, and 1750 October. Trends in London are mixed. Support is at 473.00, 466.00, and 46w0.00 October, with resistance at 500.00, 506.00, and 517.00 October.

COCOA
General Comments: Both markets were lower yesterday on reports that temperatures were moderating after reports of cold temperatures in Cocoa areas of Brazil. There are ideas that some of the Cocoa was damaged. Demand ideas were down on Friday after the Swiss Chocolate Association said that the Trump tariffs would hurt sales by its members into the US. The President imposed a 34% tariff on Switzerland last week. There are still reports of increased production potential in other countries outside of West Africa, including Asia and Central America. The market anticipates good demand and less production from Ivory Coast and Ghana. Adequate soil moisture in Ivory Coast is fostering abundant flowering on trees, signaling a healthy October-to-March main crop.
Overnight News:
Chart Trends: Trends in New York are up. Support is at 8230, 7910, and 7500 September, with resistance at 8900, 9320, and 9450 September. Trends in London are mixed up. Support is at 5560, 5310, and 4700 September, with resistance at 6010, 6160, and 6480 September.

Questions? Ask Jack Scoville today at 312-264-4322