Rogers Commodity Index Swaps Arabica for Robusta Beans

Rogers Commodity Index Swaps Arabica for Robusta Beans

Shame on me for not doing my homework on this trade!

As I was reading the Weekend WSJ on Saturday, while fitting enjoying a french pressed cup of arabica coffee, I learned why my recent coffee trade was ill-timed.  The market has been increasingly swapping out arabica beans for their cheaper robusta cousins, resulting in a record low spread between the two prices.

And who was ahead of this curve?  Of course  our commodity hero and guru Jim Rogers:

In a sign of robusta’s wider acceptance, the Rogers International Commodity Index last month swapped arabica for robusta futures in the basket of raw materials it tracks. An estimated $6 billion in investor funds track the index, says Tom Price, chief executive of Chicago brokerage Price Futures Group.

“Consumption is moving in that direction, and we want to be a little ahead of the curve,” said Jim Rogers, a commodity investor who designed the index.

While it’s been a bear market in arabica, it’s been a hot market in robusta.  I expect that increasing demand for coffee – especially from Asia – will turn around the trend in arabica sooner rather than later.  For now, it’s probably best to let the volatile arabica market find a solid bottom before exploring the long side.

Arabica Coffee Futures Price Chart

Producers can’t give away arabica beans these days! (via BarChart.com)

If you’re looking for a trade to make at the moment, I would consider cotton, which appears to be once again creeping higher on Chinese demand.  I do have a current long position in cotton, so we’ll continue to watch this market closely.

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