CHICAGO—U.S. corn futures hit the limit on one-day declines as concerns over the Japanese nuclear crisis drove traders to reduce risk in a host of markets.
Corn futures for May and July delivery fell 30 cents in morning trading, the largest daily drop allowed under Chicago Board of Trade rules. The contracts have since recovered slightly, with May futures recently trading 28 cents, or 4.2%, lower at $6.38 a bushel.
Wheat, soybean and hog futures came under heavy selling pressure as well, while live cattle and rice futures touched exchange-imposed limits for one-day declines.
"Uncertainty about the global economy and events in Japan are putting pressure on just about everything," said Kayla Hoffman, a North Dakota grain merchandiser.
The markets tumbled as concerns increased about Japan's infrastructure and economy following Friday's earthquake and tsunami and a subsequent crisis at a nuclear plant. Worries that Japan's demand for commodities will drop off in the near term sent buyers to the sidelines as investors pulled cash out of risky assets in favor of more liquid holdings such as U.S. dollars, analysts said.
Japan is the biggest customer for U.S. corn and pork exports, as well as a key consumer of soybeans, wheat and beef.
"Any time your major customer has the kind of problems we are seeing in Japan, it is eventually going to affect the amount of business they do with you," said Tomm Pfitzenmaier, an analyst at Summit Commodity Brokerage in Iowa.
Corn futures have pulled back 12% since reaching a 32-month high on March 4 on concerns global supplies would fall short of ongoing, strong demand. Yet worries have been growing about a potential global economic slowdown, driven by high energy prices and unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. The Japanese disaster is further fueling concerns among investors.
The sell-off is a positive for users of corn, such as livestock producers, who are able to secure grain at lower prices. End users are "merely sitting back and enjoying the correction," said Rich Feltes, vice president of research for brokerage firm RJ O'Brien.
Still, grain users remain nervous about supplies, with corn projected to reach a 15-year low at the end of the crop's marketing year on Aug. 31. Farmers are expected to significantly increase plantings this spring to replenish inventories, but crop yields fluctuate depending on weather conditions.
Wheat futures continued Tuesday to retreat from 2½-year highs set last month. Soft red winter wheat for May delivery reached a three-month low, recently trading down 46.25 cents, or 6.4%, to $6.7450 a bushel at the CBOT.
Japan, a steady buyer of wheat, said it is proceeding with its regular wheat import tenders, despite the earthquake and tsunami. Yet, traders are concerned the government may curb its purchases or be unable to take delivery of grain due to damaged ports in the north.
Soybean futures approached a three-month low, with the May contract sinking 49.5 cents, or 3.7%, to $12.905 a bushel. Rice futures briefly tumbled to the daily 50-cent limit on one-day declines as selling engulfed the grain markets. Rice for May delivery recently was down 38 cents, or 2.8%, at $12.995 per hundredweight. Hog futures also continued to post declines, with the April contract down 0.9% to 85.20 cents a pound.
Cattle futures for delivery in April, June and August fell as much as three cents per pound in morning trading—the largest daily decline allowed under Chicago Mercantile Exchange rules. The contracts have since recovered, with cattle for April delivery recently down 2.5 cents, or 2.2%, at $1.14 a pound.
Export markets are considered by analysts and economists to be the linchpin that has been holding U.S. beef markets at multi-year highs, even though they account for only about 10% of total beef sales. Japan is the third-largest export market for U.S. beef.