Paris wheat up on strong demand, firm US markets

HAMBURG: European wheat prices rose on Tuesday, supported by strong international demand and rising U.S. markets on hopes a U.S.-China trade deal could boost demand for U.S. grains, traders said.

Benchmark Euronext December milling wheat was up 0.8% or 1.5 euros at 184.00 euros ($217.32) a tonne at 1554 GMT.

U.S. and Chinese officials spoke by phone on Monday and see progress on resolving problems over the Phase 1 trade deal reached in January and say both sides are committed to the success of the deal, which includes more Chinese purchases of U.S grain.

"Demand from China for U.S. grains was already good. A deal could boost it even further," one trader said.

"There is also support from a long list of international tenders including Egypt, Jordan, and many more," he added. "Countries are lining up."

Still, uncertainty remained on the final size of global harvests, traders said.

In Germany, cash premiums in Hamburg were little changed as traders assessed the export potential for the new wheat crop, now completed.

"Other exporting countries in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea region look considerably cheaper than Germany and are likely to win the main export sales in coming weeks," one German trader said.

German 12% protein new crop wheat for September onwards delivery in Hamburg was offered for sale at an unchanged 1 euro under the Paris December contact. Buyers were seeking about 1.75 euros under Paris.

Export prices in Poland rose in the past week, partly due to stronger demand but heavy competition was also being felt.

Polish 12.5% protein wheat rose by 10 zloty a tonne on the week to around 750 zloty (170.8 euros) for September delivery to port silos.

"There is slightly higher activity for Polish milling wheat with more vessels arriving in Polish ports for loading," one Polish trader said. "But export sales are still dominated by the Baltic States, who are selling 12.5% protein wheat fob Baltic ports at around 9 euros under the Paris December contract, while the same wheat in Poland is quoted at about 5 euros fob under Paris."

One ship is currently loading 31,500 tonnes of Polish wheat in Gdynia for Algeria and another sailed from Gdynia last week with 50,000 tonnes for South Africa.

Another ship has just sailed with 31,000 tonnes from Szczecin also for Algeria.