Commodity Swaps for Producers

Like any other financial market, the farm commodities market can be volatile, which can be a challenge when it comes to managing cash flow. Our swap for producers allows you to lock in a portion of the sale price¹ for your crops, reducing the impact on your cash flow. Contact your account manager

Email us

Already a client? Contact your Account Manager

Contact our Risk Management Solutions team at 514-394-4556 or at 1-844-394-4556 (toll-free) from 8 am to 5 pm (ET)

Sell your crops at a fixed price

Locking in prices with our swap for producers allows you to:

Secure your revenue by locking in a portion of the sale price when the market price is favourable.
Manage your cash flow more effectively
Focus on production

The swap for producers in four steps

Decide on the transaction amount and time period.

Negotiate a fixed price (swap price) with National Bank.²

Sell your crop to a chosen buyer (consumer, grain dealer or processor) at the fixed sale price.³

At the end of the term, settle up any difference between the market price and the swap price.

Two possible scenarios

The market price is lower than the swap price

National Bank will pay you the difference between the swap price and the market price for the value of the contract.

The market price is higher than the swap price

You will pay National Bank the difference between the swap price and the market price for the amount included in the contract.

Features of National Bank's swap for producers

Price can be locked in up to 18 months in advance for up to 75% of your future harvest
Flexible reference dates (monthly or weekly average, set date, etc.)
Access to a range of agricultural price indices including corn, soy, wheat and pork
Generally, no upfront payments (margin calls) or refunds are required during the contract period
Has less impact on your cash flow than a futures contract
Currency risk is reduced with swaps available in both U.S. and Canadian dollars

Eligibility criteria

Produce at least 2,000 tonnes of grain per year
Have set up a credit facility and obtained the legal documents required by National Bank
Undergo a complete risk assessment by our specialists to establish the suitability of the product

Email us

Useful Articles

The challenges and opportunities of the Canadian dollar’s decline

5 things you can do to reduce international business risk

Succession Planning: How to Transfer your Business

Find out more

Looking to control fuel costs?

Learn more about our fuel swaps

Need to show proof of solvency to an international client?

Discover our made-to-measure guarantees

We have a specialized agriculture team with a wide range of experts—including many agronomists!

Find out about our specialized financing

¹ The market price is determined based on supply and demand. This price is independent of the actual transactions you carry out with clients and suppliers, and excludes the local cash basis.

² The price negotiated with National Bank will be slightly different from the market price, to reflect the credit valuation adjustment, or CVA. This price difference is subject to change based on market conditions at the time of negotiation.

³ Price available at the time of sale: current market price (spot price) +/- local cash basis.

This content is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or financial products. Users must individually evaluate the benefits of a particular transaction, in consultation with their own professional advisors to determine whether the terms and risks of the transaction are appropriate for their specific needs.