FEBRUARY 2008- RAW MATERIALS Prices soar
Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France increased +7.4% in Euro rebounding from the previous month downward trend impacted upwards by the foodstuff prices index +11.4% gain while mineral products prices rose a modest +6.4% by comparison. Brent crude oil price rose +3% and heating oil +4.4%
Out of the foodstuff component, the tropical food price index rose +13.6%cereals +6.7% and sugar +12.4% Expressed in currency, prices mirrored these trends including Brent and heating oil prices. Similarly and as regards industrial products, the strongest increase was recorded by precious metals +11.3% gain expressed each in Euro and currency, while the strongest price cut involved coniferous trees sawn timbers -8.6% in Euro and -8.4% in currency.
In one year and in Euro, the overall index increased +8.3%. The foodstuff products price index soared +59% . Brent crude oil/pb skyrocketed +46.6% and heating oil +45.2%. Out of the foodstuff index, the tropical food price index component increased +26% cereals +12.1% and sugar +8.6% Industrial products -5.8% tamed the overall index as most components recorded significant import price cuts: the leather price index fell -26.5% coniferous trees sawn timbers -24% and minerals -6.1% Natural textile fibers price index rose +11.4% and natural rubber +11.1% while precious metals, due to a weak dollar increased +25.6%
In currency, the overall index jumped +21.5% impacted by a weak dollar pushing prices up in dollar terms. Brent crude oil stayed on an inflationary trend to a record +65.3% and heating oil +63.8% The foodstuff price index jumped +77.8% tropical food +42% cereals +26.4% and sugar +22.5%
Industrial products mirrored the Euro prices index per component but grew overall +6% The natural textile fibers prices index increased +25.3% twofold compared with the Euro prices due to a weak dollar, natural rubber +15.5%leatrher prices fell -17.2% wood -14.3%.
By contrast minerals prices rose +6.1% inversely to prices expressed in Euro while precious metals prices jumped +47.6% While non ferrous metals prices rose a modest +4.7% in currency they fell -7.15 in Euro.
MARCH 2008- RAW MATERIALS Prices dip in Euro but soar in currency
Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France fell -1.8% in Euro rescinding from the previous month as each industrial and food products prices declined respectively
-0.9% and -3.9% pushed down by most products prices downward trend due to a strong Euro. Crude oil per barrel increased +3.4% and heating oil +8% while in currency, prices rose nearly by half, respectively +8.7% and +13.4%
In Euro and out of the Food products category, tropical food products fell -3.6% cereals
-2.3% and sugar -6.8% Industrial products prices followed a similar downward trend: natural textile fibers prices fell -0.2% natural rubber -5.3% leather -0.8% and coniferous trees sawn timbers -6.1%. Minerals recorded the only price increase out of that category +7.3% while precious metals prices stayed quasi stable or +0.2% On the same period and in currency, prices performed inversely: food prices rose +0.5% with cereals prices rising +2.9% tropical food +1.6%. Sugar prices fell -1.9% Overall, industrial products prices rose +4.3% impacted by natural textile fibers prices +4.7% gain, leather +4.3% although natural rubber -1.4% price cut and coniferous trees sawn timbers -1.2% offset that category overall. Minerals prices rose +5.4% similarly to precious metals.
In one year and in Euro, imported raw material prices rose +8% but soared +26% in currency with oil seeds prices skyrocketing respectively +86% and +113% Crude oil per barrel rose +42.5% in Euro and +67% in currency while heating oil prices jumped +78.6% in currency and +52.4% in Euro.
Out of the Euro index, food products prices soared +49% tropical food products +20.1% and cereals +21.8% while sugar by comparison only rose +5.9% Industrial products overall saw prices rise +3.6% due to two major price cuts -- leather -26.2% and coniferous trees sawn timbers -23.6% Minerals prices fell -2.7% while precious metals prices increased +29.4%
In currency and due to a weak dollar, precious metals prices jumped +58% and minerals +14.3%. Industrial products prices rose +13% as natural rubber prices increased +15.4% natural textile fibbers +29.1% while leather prices fell -13.5% and coniferous trees sawn timbers -10.4% Food products recorded by comparison alarming inflationary trends soaring overall +72% with each tropical food products and cereals prices increasing twofold compared with Euro prices. Sugar prices jumped +24.2%
JULY 2008 - RAW MATERIALS Prices climb modestly
Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France and expressed in Euro climbed +0.4% compared with June as the food products prices index declined -2.8% impacted by cereals biggest price index cut -18.4% despite sugar +20.7% gain. The tropical products price index dipped -2%. Energy prices recorded similar downwards trends with oil prices falling -0.7% and heating oil -0.4% Industrial products modest +0.4% price index increase along with minerals +0.3% added to the overall index deflation: the natural textile fibers price index fell -0.6%, natural rubber prices stayed quasi stable or +0.1%, the leather price index declined -0.8% The coniferous sawn timbers price index rose +4.9%. Out of minerals, the precious metals price index fell -3.7%
In currency, the overall index fell -0.7% nearly mirroring the Euro prices index as the dollar depreciation improved. Energy prices rose a mild +0.6% while heating oil prices fell -0.4%. The food products prices index declined -1.8% due to the oil seeds prices index falling -1% impacted by palm tree oil prices -7.3%, along with tropical food products -0.7% The cereals price index recorded the index hardest fall -17.3%, similarly to the Euro index due to the maize price index substantial -8.2% decline and rice massive -22.8% The sugar price index by contrast jumped +22.3% Industrial products fared better than the Euro index and rose +1.6% due to non ferrous metals +1.9% pushed up by aluminum +3.8% unlike nickel -10.6%. Similarly, the precious metals prices index rose +1.7% due to gold prices +5.7% gain and silver +6.3% as the palladium and platinum prices index fell substantially, respectively -5.6% and -6.6% Other industrial products components recorded milder price increases : the natural textile fibers price index gained +0.5%, natural rubber +1.2% leather +0.6% but coniferous sawn timbers +6.9%.
In one year, and in currency, the overall index jumped +19.7% pushed up by the food products price index +49.3% gain and precious metals +45.2%: out of the food component, the cereals price index soared + 109.5% as Thai rice trading prices soared +123.7% (+136.5% since January) while corn trading prices jumped +96.8% (and +64.1% since January) The oil seeds prices index recorded similar performances +63.4% pushed up by sunflower oil trading +136.9% higher (and +207.8% since January) soya beans +91.2% (+126% since January) and palm tree oil +36.4% (+ 88.4% since January). The sugar price index jumped +33.5% mirroring trading prices +33.3% in one year and +21.1% since January yet far from the March 2006 record high at USD cents/lb 17.1
Tropical foods saw Robusta coffee trading prices gain +32% in one year and +53.3% since January while Arabica coffee trading prices performed nearly similarly +27% and +17.1% respectively. The industrial products price index rose +8% due to natural rubber +47.5% natural textile fibers +12.2% leather more modest +0.7% while the coniferous sawn timbers price index fell -5.2% The minerals price index rose +6.8%. Out of non ferrous metals the steel price index jumped +66% while lead settlement trading prices fell -36.9% Precious metals pushed up the industrial component due to gold as prices traded +41.3% higher, (and +48.9% since January), along with silver +39.7% (+40.5% since January), platinum +46.1% (+65.9%) and palladium +16.3% (+26.3% since January).
In Euro, the index rose +4.2% due to the food products component +28.7% gain as the cereals price index jumped +82.4%, tropical food +19.1% and sugar +16.1% Industrial products rose +6.7% due to the natural rubber price index rising +35.9% but offset by the coniferous sawn timbers massive -17.4% price index cut, natural textile fibers -2.9% and leather -12.2% The minerals price index also recorded a downwards trend -7.1% due to nickel and, despite the steel price index +44.5% gain. The precious metals price index increased +4%
AUGUST 2008 - RAW MATERIALS Prices dip further
Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France and expressed in Euro fell -2.3% compared with July as the food products prices index recorded its second consecutive decline -4.6% although industrial products slight -0.9% price cut prevented the index from declining further. On the same period, crude oil prices rescinded -10.5% and heating oil -10.2% Out of the food products component, cereals prices dipped -2.8% while tropical food prices rose +0.3% and sugar +9.2%
Industrial products prices index performed inversely, with natural textile fibers prices surging +6%, leather +5.2% and coniferous sawn timbers +15% Rubber prices fell -3.2% Minerals prices declined -2.4% due to non ferrous metals and -8.2% while precious metals prices index slumped -11.4% pushed down by the price of gold and silver. In currency, the overall index fell -6.6% as commodities prices slid similarly to the Euro index: food products prices rescinded -8% due to cereals -7.7% and tropical foods -4.8% unlike sugar +3.6% Industrial products prices -5.9% decline reflected natural rubber prices -5.9% leather flat performance although coniferous sawn timbers prices surged +9.2% and natural textile fibers +1.4%. Minerals products prices dipped -7.4% with precious metals -16.2% On the same period, crude oil prices fell -15.1% and heating oil -14.8%
In one year, the overall index rose +5.05% in Euro and +16.20% in currency due to a weak exchange rate. For the same reason, crude oil prices jumped +60% in currency and +45.6% in Euro Heating oil prices climbed +64% in currency and +49.8% in Euro. Per component, and in Euro, food products prices rose +21.5% impacted by cereals +74.6% sugar +29.6% and tropical food +26.8%
Industrial products prices fell -2.1% due to leather prices -8.5% decline, sawn timber prices fell -2.8% by contrast to natural rubber +27.8% gain and natural textile fibers +6.1% Minerals prices fell -3.2% and precious metals +9.8% In currency, precious metals climbed +24.6% and minerals +6.4% Out of industrial products, up +7.8% natural textile fibers prices rose +17.6% natural rubber +34.2%and rubber a modest +0.6% sawn timbers +6.7% The food component +36.5% price index increase recorded its strongest price gain with cereals prices soaring +91.8% tropical food +39.2% and sugar +42.4%
SEPTEMBER 2008 - RAW MATERIALS Prices keep deflating amid lower global demand
Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France and expressed in Euro declined -2% compared with August pushed down by food and industrial products decreasing each for the third consecutive month by -2.4% and -1.8% London Brent crude oil prices observed similarly a downward trend -9.6% due to lower consumer demand along with heating oil -3.7% . Out of the index, the strongest price cuts were recorded by industrial products with coniferous sawn timbers prices nose diving -9.1% natural textile fibers -3% precious metals -5% non ferrous metals -3.3% and minerals -2% Price increases stayed modest by comparison with previous record high and involved natural rubber +0.5% leather +1.3% with the exception of steel minerals +4.4%
Food products most substantial price decline was recorded by oil seeds -7.3% and sugar -6.4% due to lesser bio fuel demand. Cereals prices rose a modest +1% tropical food products prices stayed quasi stable or +0.2%
In currency and on the same period, crude oil prices dived -13% and heating oil -7.5% The overall prices index fell -5.6% impacted downwards by slower demand similarly to the Euro index. The food and industrial products prices declined respectively -5% and -6% Sugar recorded the strongest price cut -10.2% along with oilseeds -7.3% tropical food -3.8% and cereals -3% Industrial products prices did not fare better: coniferous wan timers prices tumbled -12.7% leather -2.7% natural textile fibers -6.2% and natural rubber -0.3% Minerals products prices recorded a similar negative performance -6.1% with steel minerals prices remaining flat, precious metals prices falling -9.1% Non ferrous metals prices decreased by 7.1%
In one year, the Euro index grew +3.3% while the currency recorded a higher increase +8.11% due to a weak dollar. Per component, the index strongest performances were recorded by cereals in currency +83.4% and +77.5% in Euro, natural rubber +31.4% in currency and +28.4% in Euro steel minerals +66% in currency and +60% in Euro. Crude oil prices underperformed by comparison gaining on the same period +28.1% in currency (+24.1% in Euro) heating oil prices rose +38.8% in currency and +34.3% in Euro. Non ferrous metals recorded the hardest price cut, -7.8% in currency due to copper -8.4% and aluminum -8.6% and -10.8% in Euro. Precious metal prices gained +8.3% and +1.6% Food products on the same period recorded as the strongest price increases +21.8% in currency and +13.3% in currency tropical food +27% and +22.9% along with sugar +29.1% and +24.9%
NOVEMBER 2008 - RAW MATERIALS Prices record biggest losses in six months
Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France and expressed in Euro fell -5.7% compared with the previous month and dipped -9.2% in one year. In six months however, prices collapsed -19.3% pushed down by a global slow down in demand. On the same cumulative period, London Brent Crude oil prices plummeted -51.2% compared with -29.3% month on month in November. Heating oil prices performed similarly decreasing by 40.4% in six months and by 18.1% in November. Of the index major components, food products prices dipped -2.2% in November but -19.2% since June. Out of that component, exotic food products prices fell -0.2% but -10.2% in six months while cereals prices dipped respectively -8.4% and -26.1% Sugar prices by contrast rose +5.9% and jumped +33.8% Industrial products prices observed stronger losses: the component index declined -8.1% in November but slid -19.4% since June. O the same period, the price of natural textile fibers fell -9.8% and -15.4% natural rubber -9.1% and -34.3% coniferous sawn timbers prices stayed stable in November but decreased by -6.7% in six months. Leather remained the exception with prices stable or +0.1% in November and +14.8% since June.
Minerals products prices, -9.5% and -22.2% saw precious metals prices rescind -1.5% in November but -19.2% since June. Steel minerals prices rose +4.4% but gained +22.2% since June while non ferrous metal prices dipped -12.8% in November and -31% in June.
In currency, the overall index mirrored this negative trend: London Brent Crude oil prices tumbled -35.1% in November but nose dived -60% in six months, and heating oil prices on the same period, fell -23.1% and -51.2% Food products prices, down -4.2% in November, dipped -29.5% in six months along with exotic food products prices, respectively -4.5% and -26.5% cereals -13.2% and -39.5%, while sugar prices gained +1.8% and +9.5%
Industrial products prices observed significant cuts: overall prices deflated -12.7% in November but -33.8% in six months, pushed down by natural textile fibers -13.2% and -28.4% as well as natural rubber prices -11.8% and -40.8% leather -4.2% and -6% and coniferous sawn timbers -4.3% and -23.6% Prices of minerals performed similarly, -14.2% in November and -36.4% since June with steel minerals prices remaining unchanged.
Non ferrous metals prices fell -16.8% compared with last month but +21.2% since June, unlike precious metals prices, down respectively -5.5% and -34.6%
In one year, raw materials prices expressed in Euro declined -9.2% and twofold in currency -18.3% despite the dollar appreciation. London Brent Crude oil prices fell -34% in Euro but -42.7% in currency nearly mirroring heating oil prices -16.7% in Euro but -27.7% in currency. Out of the overall index, the industrial products index component -13.1% in Euro but -24.3% in currency recorded stronger losses than the food products index +0.1% in Euro and -4.9% in currency: in Euro exotic food products prices rose +13.3% but fell -1.7% in currency and oil seeds -30% in Euro and -21.6% in currency, unlike prices of cereals, +62.2% in Euro and +40.7% in currency, and sugar +37.7% in Euro and +19.5% in currency.
Natural textile fibers prices in Euro also observed a downward trend, -13% and in currency -21% along with natural rubber, -17.8% in Euro and -23.8% in currency, coniferous sawn timbers -10.2% in Euro and -22.2% in currency, while leather prices rose +11.3% in Euro but fell -3.4% in currency. The price of minerals reflected the lack of global demand, -15.3% in Euro and -26.4% in currency with the exception of steel minerals prices +91.3% in Euro and +83.1% in currency, inversely to non ferrous metals prices, -29.1% in Euro and -38.3% in currency, and precious metals prices -9.1% in Euro and twofold in currency -18.6%
