McKeany-Flavell Hot Commodity Podcast

The Grim Reaper speaks! (on soybean & palm oil markets)

• Looking toward the “futures” and determining “good value”
  • Soybean oil futures market evolution since the start of the Iran war
    • What happened in deferred contracts?
• Is palm oil next?
  • Comparing the last strong El Niño event against an impending one
  • A look at pricing dynamics for Malaysian palm oil futures (BMD exchange)
• Not a client on McKeany-Flavell’s IQ Intelligence Platform? Visit iq.mckeany-flavell.com to learn more!
  • Commodity dashboards
  • Dynamic data & interactive charts
  • Analytics & calculators
  • Price forecasts
  • Downloadable data, charts, and tables
• Our next webinar: Seasonal Market Outlook
  • Wed., Jun 24, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT

  • Invites rolling out soon!

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

 

Sugar planting progress updates + LIVE from the Sweets & Snacks Expo!

• Sugar
  • Beet crop progress is a mixed bag but still optimistic for a good crop
  • Cane production appears to be progressing well despite winter freeze
• Sweets & Snacks Expo
  • Who attended this year?
  • Flavors and promotions seen on the floor
    • Nostalgic brands and lots of sour!
  • What was Mike’s favorite candy?
• Save the date for our next webinar!
  • Seasonal Market Outlook
  • Wed., June 24, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Invites rolling out soon!

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Kevin Combs, Vice President – Global Sweeteners Specialist

Current factors impacting the cocoa & chocolate market

• Forecasted Super El Niño and its effect on cocoa
  • Expect dry conditions: Is it already occurring?
• High fertilizer prices and how they will impact 2026/27 production
• Chocolate manufacturers heeding the demand of consumers
  • What are some alternatives for cocoa content?
• Don’t miss next week’s webinar!
  • Wheat Market Update
  • Wed., May 20, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Clients, invites are going out now, or anyone can sign up now at mckeany-flavell.com

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Marilyn Adutwum, Data Analyst

May WASDE: First look at 2026/27 crop year!

• Wheat
  • Wow! goes the WASDE for wheat
    • USDA gives bullish outlook
  • Another wow!
    • Hard red winter wheat production down 36% YOY
  • 2026/27 ending stocks projected down sharply
• Corn & soy complex
  • 2025/26 changes relatively nominal
  • Corn stocks to tighten in 2026/27
  • New crop soybean and soybean oil balance sheets show more of the same (in some regards)
• Sugar
  • 2025/26 ending stocks up on higher imports
  • 2026/27 sugar production forecast to fall, with beet down how much?
  • U.S. sugar beet plantings slow, but improving in the last week
• Our next webinar: Wheat Market Update
  • Wed., May 20, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Clients, invites are going out now, or anyone can sign up now at mckeany-flavell.com

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Eric Thornton, Vice President
Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services
Expert: Kevin Combs, Vice President – Global Sweeteners Specialist

Discussing consumer trends with Sarah Muller of Jogue

• How to build a product for the long term in the GLP-1 space
• How to market to Gen Z and Millennials
• Combating “wellness fatigue” as a brand with a case study
• See Sarah at Sweets & Snacks Expo, Supplier Showcase, May 18 at 2pm
• Our next webinar: Wheat Market Update
  • Wed., May 20, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Clients, invites are going out now, or anyone can sign up now at mckeany-flavell.com
• Happy Mother’s Day!

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Sarah Muller, Senior Director of Global Flavor Solutions at Jogue

Sugar beet plantings update: A mixed bag through April

• Planting progress:
  • Idaho is 83% planted, well ahead of normal
  • Plains region looking average
  • Red River Valley and Michigan, slow to start
    • What’s the reason?
• Latest update on the Farm Bill
  • Clarity for farmers?

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Kevin Combs, Vice President – Global Sweeteners Specialist

Energy & economy update: More on the critical inflection point

• Ceasefire talks back on in Pakistan
• Is WTI crude oil stabilizing?
• What’s the Fed’s next move?
• Clients favoring risk aversion
• Did you miss our U.S. Economy Update Webinar: Critical Inflection Point on Wednesday?
  • Watch now on our IQ platform!
  • Not an IQ subscriber? Reach out to us to learn more!

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Shawn Bingham, Director of Commodity Risk Management

Edible oil markets down, hooray!

• News of transit through the Strait of Hormuz collapses crude oil futures
• Spillover effect pressuring soybean and palm oil futures
• What’s the timeline for a return to “normal” markets?
• A quick review of the current fundamentals
• Our next webinar: U.S. Economy Update Webinar
  • Wed., April 22, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Clients, invites are going out now, or anyone can sign up now at mckeany-flavell.com

Host: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist
Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services

April WASDE & summer is approaching!

• Sugar
  • Higher sugar imports leads to offsetting higher deliveries
  • Stocks-to use ratio left unchanged
• Wheat
  • U.S. and wheat global stocks rise, leading to a neutral to bearish April WASDE
  • Expect more changes in the May WASDE to food and export demand, and new-crop 2026/27 first looks
• Corn & soy complex
  • U.S. corn balance sheet unchanged, global ending stocks improve
  • Soybean supplies remain adequate in the U.S., ample globally
  • More food use of soybean oil? What will be the real stocks level for U.S. soybean oil?
• Our next webinar: U.S. Economy Update Webinar
  • Wed., April 22, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Clients, invites are going out now, or anyone can sign up now at mckeany-flavell.com

Host: Michael Caughlan, President & CEO
Expert: Nicole Thomas, Vice President – Information Services
Expert: Eric Thornton, Vice President
Expert: Kevin Combs, Vice President – Global Sweeteners Specialist

Weather & the jobs market

• Weather
  • Winter wheat relief ahead?
    • Potential for rains that are desperately needed
  • 65% of U.S. winter wheat in drought conditions: Highest since 2022
• Jobs
  • Headline jobs data beats expectations
  • Wage growth is easily outpacing inflation
  • Underlying long-term trends are still concerning
• Save the date for our next webinar!
  • Economy Update Webinar
  • Wed., April 22, 2026 at 2pm ET / 11am PT
  • Invites to be out soon

Host: Craig Ruffolo, Vice President – Commodity Specialist
Expert: Eric Thornton, Vice President
Expert: Shawn Bingham, Director of Commodity Risk Management