Technical Analysis For Sugar: 2018-01-30

 | Jan 30, 2018 08:44AM ET

A decrease in sugar crop is expected in Cuba

Cuba canceled sugar exports for a month to meet domestic demand. The crop was damaged because of the hurricane. Will the sugar quotes grow?

According to the AZCUBA Sugar Group, in Cuba, only 31% out of the planned level of the sugar crop was harvested in January 2018. The main reason for this was the way too rainy weather. The sugar crop forecast is 1.6 mln tonnes in the current agricultural season. This is less than 1.8 mln tonnes in the previous season. Domestic sugar consumption in Cuba is 600-700 thousand tonnes per year.

Cuba annually supplies China with another 400 thousand tonnes in accordance with a long-term contract. The remaining sugar can be sold in the world market. Over the past 16 months, sugar quotes have dropped by almost 2 times, and by more than 10% since the beginning of 2018. According to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the volume of net short positions on sugar reached a historic high last week. Their closure may strengthen the upward correction.