The Commodity Kitchen with David Maloni

Firm Markets, Funky Consumers

In this episode, I break down the latest moves across the commodity markets, and we’re continuing to see firming conditions in several key areas. The Datum FS Commodity Index moved higher again, soybean oil climbed to six-month highs, and dairy markets strengthened with cheese and butter both trading higher on solid volume. In proteins, chicken markets are rising even with year-to-date production up, egg prices have doubled since our last episode, and pork bellies hit 11-week highs. Beef remains a major story — year-to-date slaughter is down sharply, and the latest annual cattle report shows the smallest U.S. herd since 1951, with inventory down year over year and herd rebuilding expected to be slow, especially with drought in the Southern Plains. I’m then joined by Jonathan Maze, Editor-in-Chief of Restaurant Business Magazine, to talk about the consumer and the foodservice industry. As he puts it, the consumer is “weird” right now — very price sensitive, yet still spending on delivery and rushing to try viral menu items. We discuss how social media is accelerating trends and driving sudden traffic swings, while heavy discounting continues as the industry works through ongoing traffic challenges. Looking ahead, Jonathan says one of the biggest trends to watch is beverages, as younger consumers shift away from traditional meal patterns and restaurants push harder into drink innovation to capture more occasions. Connect with our host: David Maloni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/] Connect with our Guest:  Jonathan Maze's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmaze/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanmaze/] Click here to find out more: https://datumfs.com/ [https://datumfs.com/]

Inflation Signals

In this episode, I review what’s changing across major commodity markets. Even though the Datum FS Commodity Index is still trading near two-year lows, I’m starting to see inflation creep back into several areas. I call out crude oil moving higher, the dollar being higher (not ideal for commodities), and grain markets staying generally rangebound. The clearest standout on the ag side is soybean oil, which I note is up 20% year over year and at a five-month high this week, with biodiesel demand as a major driver. I also run through proteins and dairy. In dairy, I mention cheese blocks higher, barrels kind of flat, and butter sharply higher—while also noting cheese and butter are still down materially year over year. On proteins, I cover table eggs jumping $0.27/dozen this week, chicken markets firming (breasts and wings at multi-week highs), pork output up year over year with a cutout that’s been sideways but down month over month, and beef output down year over year with choice and select cutouts higher versus last year. I flag chicken breasts as moving through key technical resistance levels, and I close with consumer sentiment improving per the University of Michigan reading, along with a reminder that inflation can show up all at once—so staying close to the data matters. David Maloni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/] Click here to find out more: https://datumfs.com/ [https://datumfs.com/]

2026 Market Reset

Welcome to The Commodity Kitchen Podcast, and happy New Year. In this episode, 2026 Market Reset, I walked through what’s setting the tone for markets as we head into the new year. Grain markets are generally rangebound with some firmness in soybean meal, and soybean oil is still up about 9% year over year due in part to biofuel demand. In dairy, cheese blocks are steady while butter is down 7.9% on the month, marking some of the lowest non-COVID prices of the last decade and creating real contracting opportunities. Crude was a little firmer, while diesel and gasoline prices continue to edge lower. On proteins, eggs have been hit hard—down 61% over the last month—while chicken output is up 4.3% year over year, keeping markets in check. Pork output is up short term but expected to be fairly tepid for the year, and beef production is down 5.2% with trim firming and the rib complex unusually weak. I also flagged the potential Supreme Court ruling on Trump-era tariffs and China’s new 55% tariff on beef once quotas are filled, both of which could add confusion and tighten imported lean beef supplies in the U.S. as we move further into 2026. Connect with our host: David Maloni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/] Click here to find out more: https://datumfs.com/ [https://datumfs.com/]

Markets & Mistletoe

In this episode of Commodity Kitchen, I walked through the latest commodity trends, noting that our food-weighted index has fallen below prior-year levels for the first time in nearly two years. Energy markets remain a tailwind with gasoline now at four-year lows, while grains and soybean oil continue to show weakness. Coffee prices are easing after tariff exemptions on Brazil and Vietnam, and dairy markets are sharply lower year over year due to abundant milk supply. Protein markets remain mixed, with chicken output running higher, pork values supported, and beef production down more than 4% year to date — a key driver behind the recent surge in cattle futures. I was joined by Pedrom Rejai of Elevate Growth Partners, who explained how tariffs and retaliation are disrupting global food trade, pointing to a 96% collapse in U.S. beef exports to China as licenses expire and Australia steps in to fill the gap. We discussed how the almond industry successfully diversified export markets after the 2018 trade war and why that model is critical today. Pedrom also outlined best practices for navigating international sourcing, including leveraging USMCA exemptions, tightening documentation on processed foods, and investing in traceability and supplier diversification to build long-term supply chain resilience. Connect with out host: David Maloni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/] Click here to find out more: https://datumfs.com/ [https://datumfs.com/] Connect with out Guest: Pedrom Rejai's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pedromrejai/

Markets on the 50-Yard Line

In this episode of The Commodity Kitchen Podcast, David Maloni and Gerry Dalton break down the key commodity market drivers for the week ending December 6, with a focus on grains, dairy, proteins, and macroeconomic signals influencing market conditions. While energy markets and the U.S. dollar remain relatively rangebound, several important shifts are emerging beneath the surface—particularly in soybeans and soybean oil, dairy supply fundamentals, chicken production, and U.S. beef imports. The hosts examine changing supply dynamics across major protein categories, review recent USDA data showing a month-over-month decline in the U.S. milk cow herd, and discuss the Trump administration’s decision to ease beef import tariffs. They also highlight signs of ongoing consumer pressure, including increased discounting and weakening labor data, and explain how recent softness in the U.S. dollar could provide support for commodity prices. Connect with our hosts: David Maloni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmaloni/] Jerry Dalton's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-dalton-0324a821/  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-dalton-0324a821/] Click here to find out more: https://datumfs.com/ [https://datumfs.com/]