La Nina may further disrupt commodity markets via hurricanes

Brazilians getting soyabean exports to China (File pic)

AS if commodity markets needed any more drama this year, this year’s Atlantic hurricane season could be the seventh-consecutive with above-average activity, raising risks for US grain exports as well as oil production and refining capacity.

Significant disruptions for US commodities resulting from hurricanes are more the exception than the rule, but tight global stocks, high prices and geopolitical conflicts could amplify any storm impacts that surface this year.