Cattle futures mostly softened Friday, unable to shake off the week’s lower cash fed cattle prices and growing concerns about domestic and global economic growth.
Feeder Cattle futures closed an average of 84¢ lower (15¢ to $1.72 lower). They were an average of $7.34 lower week to week on Friday. The CME Feeder Cattle Index was $3.74 lower week to week on Thursday at $199.46.
Live Cattle futures closed an average of 17¢ lower, except for an average of 21¢ higher in the front two contracts. They were an average of $3.38 lower week to week on Friday.
Negotiated cash fed cattle trade was mostly inactive on light demand in all regions through Friday afternoon, with too few transactions to trend, according to the Agricultural Marketing Service.
For the week, live prices were $1 lower in the Southern Plains at $172/cwt., $2 lower in Nebraska at $176 and $2-$8 lower in the western Corn Belt at $172-$178. Dressed prices were $2-$5 lower in Nebraska at $281. The previous week, dressed prices were $285 in the western Corn Belt.
Choice boxed beef cutout value was 33¢ lower Friday afternoon at $309.19/cwt. Select was 67¢ higher at $288.16/cwt.
Estimated total cattle slaughter for the week was 623,000 head, which was 1,000 head less than the previous week and 38,000 head less than a year earlier. Year-to-date estimated total cattle slaughter of 11.3 million head was 384,000 head fewer (-3.3%). Year-to-date estimate beef production of 9.3 billion pounds was 477.6 million pounds less (-4.9%) than the same time last year.
Grain and Soybean futures continued higher Friday, led by wheat, with more support from worries about renewal of the Black Sea Initiative.
KC HRW Wheat closed mostly 26¢ to 34¢ higher through May ‘24 and then 16¢ to 21¢ higher.
Corn futures closed mostly 3¢ to 7¢ higher.
Soybean futures closed 10¢ to 18¢ higher through Jan ‘24 and then 5¢ to 8¢ higher through Mar ’25.
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Major U.S. financial indices closed higher Friday with support from a rebound in regional banks and Apple beating quarterly earnings estimates.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed 546 points higher. The S&P 500 closed 75 points lower. The NASDAQ was up 249 points.
West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures (CME) closed $2.56 to $2.78 higher through the front six contracts.
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U.S. beef exports in March showed signs of recovery from weakness during the last several months, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). However, volume and value remained less than last year’s record pace.
Beef exports volume was 120,495 metric tons in March, down 5% from a year ago. Export value fell 17% to $892.6 million, but both volume and value were the highest in five months. Through the first quarter, beef exports were down 8% year-over-year to 326,494 mt, valued at $2.35 billion (down 22%).
March beef export value per head of fed slaughter was 16% less than last year at $397.22. Value per head of fed slaughter through the first quarter was $373.42, which was 21% less year over year.
“U.S. beef exports faced considerable headwinds late last year and at the beginning of 2023, but the March results show some encouraging trends,” says Dan Halstrom, USMEF President and CEO. “Most Asian markets showed renewed momentum in March, while exports continued to trend higher to Mexico, the Caribbean and South Africa.”
March beef exports to Mexico were well above last year, while export growth to the Caribbean was highlighted by a record month for the Dominican Republic. Exports also increased year-over-year to the Philippines, while beef variety meat demand strengthened in South Africa and Peru. March exports to South Korea were below last year but were the largest in 10 months, while exports to China/Hong Kong were the largest since October.
U.S. pork exports also were encouraging; the most since May 2021. Export volume for the months was 17% higher year over year and value was up 18%. Through the first quarter, export volume is 14% more than the same time last year and value is 15% higher at $1.96 billion.