Sugar
- According to cash traders, bulk sugar offers for 2025-26 were mostly steady for both beet and cane sugar over the last week, with only a few small volume trades reported
- In its January World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, the USDA slightly raised its forecast for December 2025-26 U.S. sugar production, lowered its forecasts for imports and exports, and raised its forecast for ending stocks, with an ending stocks-to-use ratio of 15.75%, compared to 15.24% in December and 19.9% in 2024-25
- Spot global sugar futures have traded in a narrow range since mid-November, following a sharp decline during 2025, due to expectations of ample supply, according to analysts
Dry Beans
- Domestic dry bean end users have mostly completed their Q2 coverage, according to this week’s updates from cash dealers
- The U.S. faces increased competition, particularly from Argentinian black beans entering Mexico, which is impacting market share, according to analysts
- The last round of USDA-posted weekly cash offers were 6-8% lower than last year’s levels for the spot position delivered to the warehouse for most dry bean varieties
Rice
- U.S. cash dealers report that domestic bookings of milled and industrial rice are complete through Q2, as prices have rebounded from the mid-December lows
- In its 2026 Crop Production Summary, the USDA estimated all-rice production at 206.7 million cwt., down 0.6 million from its previous estimate, as a lower estimated harvested area more than offset a higher estimated yield
- The USDA expects retail prices of rice to remain stable during the first quarter of 2026, as the tariff rate applied on imported rice remains at 15% following the Philippines’ return to the international rice market on January 1
- The spot rough rice futures contract has rebounded 20% from the low posted on December 18
Flour
- The wheat markets were higher this week
- Frigid temperatures across most of the U.S. Southern Plains late this week have led to some concerns of potential “winterkill” in areas that don’t have adequate snow cover, according to analysts
- The U.S. dollar moved sharply lower again this week, helping to support wheat prices, according to analysts
- Per the USDA, export inspections for wheat this week were near the pace needed to hit its target, and are currently 18% higher than last year at this point
- According to The Western Producer, Ukraine's wheat exports remained relatively low in the first half of January, amid Russian attacks on Ukrainian seaports and low external demand, data from the country's grain trader’s union UGA showed
Commodity Trends at Your Fingertips: Dive into the Farmer's Report
The data contained in the Farmer’s Report is provided for informational purposes only, is not tailored to your specific purchasing needs, and is not intended as a substitute for any other publicly-available market data or information. The Farmer’s Report is compiled from the last-received market data provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and/or other market sources, and is subject to change without notice. Nothing herein is the opinion of US Foods®. US Foods neither assumes any legal liability nor makes any warranty or guaranty, either express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy or usefulness of this information.