Global commodity markets ended 2020 on a strong note, with recovering demand and widespread stimulus packages buoying prices after a roller coaster ride caused by the global coronavirus pandemic.
Rollouts of vaccines to combat the virus and trillions of dollars in fiscal support are expected to boost investment and spending in 2021, spurring demand for raw materials from oil to copper.
“It’s been a tumultuous year for the commodity market, as the oil meltdown in March changed how we measure and gauge risk in the entire commodity sphere,” Stephen Innes, chief global market strategist at brokerage Axi, told Reuters.
“But thanks to the Fed’s unwavering support to dig the U.S. and global economy out of a hole,” commodity markets have flourished, he added.
Energy
Overall, spot Asian LNG led the energy complex, gaining more than 140 percent this year on booming demand and outages in key suppliers.Global oil futures notched an annual decline of more than 20 percent but more than doubled from their decade lows hit in April, closing a historic year that marked the first-ever negative prices for U.S. crude benchmark WTI.
“The recovery from the pandemic will accelerate once a vaccine is widely available, further supported by ongoing fiscal and monetary stimulus from governments around the world,” ANZ said in a note. “A strong global growth pulse will likely see the U.S. dollar weaken, which is normally a prerequisite for a rally in commodity markets.”
Oil prices plunged in March and April when China and other countries went under lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, choking off global fuel demand.
Metals
Dalian iron ore and Comex silver were the top-performing major metals futures in 2020.Iron ore prices surged, driven by a combination of increased demand in China and a drop in supplies from key producer Brazil.
In precious metals, Comex silver gained 47.9 percent and Comex gold 25 percent on the back of a rush of buying by investors seeking a store of value in a year of heavy government stimulus and global central bank spending.
In industrial metals, benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange rose 27 percent this year, becoming the sector’s best performer.
More gains in copper and other base metals are expected in 2021.
Agriculture
In agriculture, Dalian corn futures were the top-performing market in 2020, followed by U.S. soymeal.“I see the first half of the calendar year the best for grain markets,” said Mike Zuzolo, president of Global Commodity Analytics, “and the second half of calendar year 2021 the best for livestock producers to get the best prices.”
U.S. corn posted the strongest yearly gain since 2010 and soybeans gained the most since 2007, while wheat closed higher for a fourth straight year. Cattle and hogs finished down.
U.S. corn’s gains caught many traders by surprise.
“It was an absolutely unprecedented rally, right into the teeth of harvest. I think that is what we will remember the most, how this market hit the contract lows there during the second week of August, then turning it on and never looking back,” said Jeff French, analyst at Top Third Ag Marketing.
Soymeal, up 41 percent, and palm oil, up almost 18 percent, were other big gainers.
London cocoa dropped around 5 percent after rising for the last two years. Raw sugar ended the year up 15 percent and white sugar was up for a second year in a row.
