Commodities in 2022: Opportunities amid inflation

Inflation is quickly becoming top of mind for many as everything from ice cream to cars gets more expensive. Investors are beginning to recognize that we’re experiencing the highest inflation levels in 40 years. In our view, we may be entering a market that could be quite favorable for inflation-hedging assets broadly and commodities, in particular. Critically, this environment is coming on the heels of a decade or more of institutions deallocating from inflation-sensitive areas.

Inflation hedging in 2022 and beyond

Commodities markets were up roughly 27% in 2021, nearly mirroring the performance of the S&P 500 Index (up 28%). But a key differentiator is what may be ahead at this point in the economic cycle. The US Federal Reserve has signaled it is likely to begin raising rates and historically, this environment has favored inflation-hedging assets like commodities relative to equities and fixed income.

Furthermore, commodities price inflation is fueling a virtuous cycle of opportunities, bolstering the asset class’s case as an inflation hedge. For example, energy tightness is driving up energy prices, which are a key input into metals production, which itself becomes a higher-cost input into energy production.

Importantly, we believe several supply and demand factors are also driving a structural and cyclical opportunity in commodities markets.

Attractive supply and demand dynamics

Commodities inventories today — from energy to agriculture to metals — are at or near their lowest points since at least 1990 (Figure 1). Falling inventories signal that supply is running far behind demand — and that is despite demand not yet fully recovering from pre-COVID levels.

Figure 1

With inventories as low as they are, markets either need demand to be destroyed or supply to respond. However, outside of a recession or a severe shock to Chinese economic growth, demand is likely to continue to grow. Moreover, the lack of supply response is a key reason we are structurally positive on the commodities cycle. Three major factors are contributing to this environment:

1. Underinvestment accelerated by the pandemic — Capital spending across energy, metals, and agriculture has been anemic for several years, a trend that continued in 2021 despite strong prices.
2. Decarbonization — This has actually accelerated demand for several commodities, further constrained capital spending in high-emitting sectors, and elevated production costs.
3. Broadening of demand — Many commodity markets are experiencing broad regional growth in demand, making the story less about China than it has been in 20 years. Though China remains important, demand is benefiting from green- and infrastructure-related plans across Europe, the US, and other regions.

The current lack of supply response is despite the significant price inflation mentioned above, with several commodities now at seven- to 10-year highs. In many ways, the last ten years may have lulled investors into a sense of complacency that production would respond if prices increased. But today, producers are maintaining strong discipline, driving supply to be as inelastic as it has been in a long time.

We believe these factors signal significant potential for commodities in this environment.

Compelling roll yields

Critically, the low inventories noted above have helped to support a substantial change to commodities roll yields. After a decade of persistently negative roll yields, the futures curves of most commodities have shifted into backwardation. The asset class is now generating a positive single-digit implied roll yield. With this roll yield, commodities investors are able to be more patient as they’re no longer required to pay a cost to maintain exposure. This is a major change compared to the last decade and is particularly compelling given the potential for commodities to help tackle inflation in the coming years.

Bottom line on commodities and inflation

Attractive supply/demand dynamics, robust price inflation, and meaningfully positive roll yields are key indicators that the commodities market is powered by several structural tailwinds. In our view, given commodities’ historical role as an inflation hedge, the short- and long-term opportunities in this asset class are particularly exciting as investors look to navigate rising inflation expectations.

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