JANUARY 2009- RAW MATERIALS Prices rebound unevenly

Overall RAW MATERIALS Prices imported in France and expressed in Euro fell -0.3% compared with last month as food products +9.4% gain on the same period offset industrial products price index -3.5% decline according to Insee figures. In one year however, the index dipped -23.8% pushed down by industrial products massive -32.2% while the food products price index shed -2.4%. In January, and against the previous month, London Brent Crude oil prices recovered  and rose +12.8% and heating oil +7.5% 
 
On the same period, out of the food products index, oil seeds and sugar prices index recorded the strongest increases, respectively +11% and +10.2% due to strong demand for soya beans in China and  drought in South America. The tropical food products prices index rose +5.9%. The cereals prices index grew +5.9% as demand for rice remained high in Asia while supply decreased.
Out of industrial products, price performed unevenly: the natural rubber price index recorded the strongest gain +14.9% natural textile fibers +3.2% leather +2.6% coniferous saw timbers -1.2% and wood pulp -5.6% The minerals prices index shed -4.1% non ferrous metals grew a modest +0.6% impacted by aluminum -5.2% decline while the steel minerals price index stayed quasi stable or +0.2% With gold recovering investors confidence, the price Index rose +8.2%

In currency, the overall index fell -2% mirroring per component the index expressed in Euro. London Brent Crude oil prices rose +10.7% and heating oil +7.5% The food products price index +8.3% gain reflected oil seeds +10.9% price index increase along with sugar +8.1%  and tropical food +5.8% while the cereals price index recorded a more modest +3.8% increase.
Industrial products -3.7% price index decline underlined most components prices index drops : the coniferous price index fell -3.1% wood pulp -5.4% minerals -5.6%nonb ferrous metals -1.5% and steel minerals stable prices index. The leather price index grew a mild +0.5% and natural rubber and natural fibers strong gains respectively +13.3% and +2% offset the index from declining further. Similar to the index expressed in Euro, precious metals prices rose +13.9%

In one year, and in Euro, the overall index -23.8% fall reflected the global economic environment. London Brent Crude oil prices dived -46.3% and heating oil -34.3%
The food products prices index fell -2.4% pushed down by oil seeds -33.7% and despite tropical food +19.3% cereals +24.7% and sugar +7.7% Industrial products -32.2% mirrored a general negative prices index trend with the exception of  natural rubber +36.4% and steel minerals +9.2% Out of that same component, the strongest declines were recorded by natural textile fibers -64% leather -36.6% and non ferrous metals -41.4% The precious metals prices index fell -11.2%

In currency, the index tumbled -29.4% despite the exchange rate gain vs. the Euro, nearly 20% . London Brent Crude oil prices plummeted -51.6% and heating oil -41% The food products prices index dipped -5% and industrial products plunged -38.7% Mirroring the index expressed in Euro, the strongest price increases were observed by cereals +12.1% tropical food products +7.4% and sugar +5% while the strongest falls were recorded by oil seeds prices index -23.2% Out of industrial products the leather price index shed a massive -43% minerals -41.5% with non ferrous metals price index down -47.4% and precious metals -21.2%  



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