US shutdown affects trade

Global agricultural trading prices are being affected by the US shutdown as key market reports are not released, analysts say.

The monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates Report - which includes forecast data for grains, seeds, beef, cotton, sugar and other commodities - failed to be released as scheduled last week.

The shutdown - which has closed the US Department of Agriculture and other non-essential government functions - entered its 15th day on Tuesday.

"The world market often trades off the USDA's numbers," Profarmer Grain chief analyst Nathan Cattle said.

"If the numbers aren't coming out in the market that's having some impact on us."

But the effect is currently pretty minimal, Mr Cattle said.

The USDA also releases weekly export sales reports, which provides buyers and sellers a good idea of what's being traded, Mr Cattle said.

"World prices obviously impact Australian prices and growers then need to make decisions on those prices," he said.