Front month fat cattle were mixed on the day within 15 cents of UNCH. The Thursday FCE auction had no sales for the 1,216 head listed, with bids stuck at $172 and asks up at $176. USDA confirmed limited cash sales on Thursday from $170 to $179, maintaining the bulk of activity near $172 in the South and $176 in the North. Feeder cattle futures ended the day mixed as well, with August the biggest mover on a 37 cent loss. The CME Feeder Cattle Index for 5/3 was $201.53, down another $1.17.
Export Sales data showed 20,141 MT of beef was sold during the week that ended 4/27. That was an 11 week high led by Japanese purchases. The data also showed a yearly high 18.8k MT were exported during the week, again led by Japan and South Korea. The year’s total shipment reached 267,588 MT compared to 309k MT last year.
Monthly Census data had March beef shipments at 285.7m lbs. That was a 14% increase from February’s volume, but was down 6% from last year. The first 3 months had the total export at 779m pounds – an 8% drop from last year’s pace.
USDA’s Wholesale Boxed Beef report had Choice boxes 43 cents higher and Select boxes 37 cents higher. USDA estimates the week’s FI cattle slaughter at 496,000 head through Thursday. That matches last week’s pace and compares to 490k during the same week last year.
Jun 23 Cattle closed at $161.575, down $0.075,
Aug 23 Cattle closed at $159.425, down $0.125,
Oct 23 Cattle closed at $163.850, down $0.150,
May 23 Feeder Cattle closed at $203.650, up $0.225
Aug 23 Feeder Cattle closed at $223.150, down $0.375
Oct 23 Feeder Cattle closed at $228.625, up $0.100
On the date of publication, Alan Brugler did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
