Thai raw sugar premiums for prompt delivery ticked lower on Tuesday and are likely to fall further next week as supplies rise, not only in Asia but elsewhere in the world, dealers said on Tuesday.
Crushing in Thailand will pick up later this month while Thai white sugar premiums could also fall because of fierce competition from top consumer India, which aims to sell more sweetener to get rid of excess stocks.
Thai raw sugar for January-March delivery was offered at premiums of 95 points to New York’s March contract, down from 110 points last week. Crushing in Thailand, the world’s largest exporter after Brazil, will last through April.“I believe that premiums will be trending lower since Thai crushing will accelerate and sugar output will outpace last year’s production,” said a dealer in Bangkok.
“Moreover, India will export more 150 Icumsa sugar which will in theory put pressure on Thai premiums for 45 Icumsa,” said the dealer, referring to different types of white sugar produced by the two countries.
The lower the ICUMSA level, the higher the degree of whiteness.
THAI WHITE SUGAR PREMIUMS OF $40 TO $50
Thai white sugar for January-March delivery was quoted at premiums of $40 to $50 a tonne to London’s March contract. There were no quotations last week as dealers waited for more offers from crushers.
Crushing in Thailand normally starts in late October or early November, but it was slightly delayed this year because of severe flooding, which had little impact on the crop. Thailand is forecast to churn out a record 9.9 million tonnes of sugar this year.
India, which has issued a formal order for exports of 1 million tonnes of sugar, will produce 25 million tonnes in the crop year starting in October, 2011, higher than annual demand of about 22 million.
Prices of Indian white sugar dropped to $610 from as high as $635 last week.
Global sugar prices have been under pressure from a crippling debt crisis in Europe, excess supply in India, rising output in Thailand, and expectations of a bumper crop in the northern hemisphere from producers such as Russia, France and Ukraine.
“People are somewhat bearish on the market, given that supply is now becoming quite surplus to requirements. There’s a lot being offered around,” said a dealer in Singapore.
“In the next month or so, there should be a lot of supply offered between Thailand, the Philippines, India and Europe. Brazilian and Guatemalan sugar are also coming on line.”
Thai high polarisation, or hipol raw sugar, for March-May shipment, was offered at premiums of 70 points to New York’s March contract, unchanged from last week, with no reports of activity.
The low-quality Thai raws favoured by Japanese buyers, or J-spec, was offered at premiums of 40 to 45 points to New York’s March contract, up from 20 points last week, as sellers jacked up the value to make up for declines in futures prices.
Brazilian raws for January to March shipment were offered at premiums of 60 points, with bids at 20 points. March-May sugar was offered at 65 points, but bids only emerged at 45 points.
March raw sugar futures on ICE shed 0.11 cent to end at 23.29 cents a lb on Monday, off a 30-year peak around 36 cents in February. London’s March white sugar contract rose $1.10 to close at $606.30 a tonne in a technical rebound.
WEEKAHEAD
Thai sugar premiums could slip next week because of ample supply, and there was even talk that Pakistan, another main producer, had begun offering sweetener.
Pakistan is expecting a bumper crop of up to 4.5 million tonnes from the 2011/12 crop, despite losses caused bby floods in the country’s south. The country’s annual consumption is about 4.2 million tonnes.
“There are some offers, or people asking around whether you want to buy Pakistan sugar. There are no details yet and some say prices will be at ‘market level’, although I don’t know what that really means,” said another dealer in Singapore.
The Dawn
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