Sugar
- U.S. cash traders report that bulk sugar price offers for the 2026-27 crop year remain firm for both beet and cane sugar this week, while most processors remain on the sidelines for new crop sales
- In its October World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, the USDA raised from September its estimated U.S. sugar ending stocks for 2025-26 and forecast ending stocks for 2026-27. Domestic use for 2025-26 was reduced, with the lower number carried into 2026-27. Ending stocks-to-use ratios were raised for both years
- According to Market Screener, the global sugar market supply deficit, or the gap between production and demand, was projected on Tuesday to grow to 6.28 million tons, 3 million tons more than a previous estimate, according to market analyst Green Pool Commodities. The analyst blamed poor production in major sugar-growing regions like Brazil, India and the European Union for the revised outlook, as global agriculture struggles to cope with impacts from the El Niño weather anomaly
- Spot global sugar futures have run into resistance, following a 60% price rally since the beginning of July
Dry Beans
- Domestic dry bean end users have completed coverage for Q1 2027 and were in the process of filling in Q2, according to the most recent updates from cash dealers
- According to the NASS Progress Report released October 19, an estimated 87% of the national dry bean crop was in the bin, driven by a smaller crop, which analysts forecast will be down 13% to 20% compared to 2025
- The latest round of USDA-posted weekly cash offers were 23%-25% 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 Q1, with end users now starting to book coverage for Q2
- Spot rice futures continue to hover near two-year highs
- In its September 2026 Rice Outlook report, the USDA estimated 2026/27 U.S. long-grain rice production at 103.5 million cwt., which would be the smallest crop since 1987/88
- In its October 2026 Rice Outlook report, the USDA reduced projected U.S. rice ending stocks to 40.0 million cwt., which would be a three-year low and a 32% decline year-over-year
Flour
- The wheat markets were lower this week
- The spot U.S. winter wheat futures contract has dropped over 20% from the highs posted in early September
- Ongoing disruptions in the Black Sea shipping corridor continue to inject a risk premium into the grain complex, according to analysts
- Corn prices continued to fall over the past week, leading to more spillover selling in wheat, as both markets compete into domestic feed channels, according to analysts
- According to the USDA, winter wheat planting is 63% complete, compared to 51% last week and the five-year average of 69%
- Recent rain in the U.S. Southern Plains has slowed this year’s winter wheat planting, but has replenished severely depleted subsoil moisture in some areas, according to analysts
- U.S. wheat prices remain very uncompetitive to non-captive destinations for export, according to analysts
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.