Sugar
- U.S. cash traders report that bulk sugar price offers for the 2026-27 crop year remained firm for both beet and cane sugar this week, while some processors remain on the sidelines for new-crop sales as the beet harvest wraps up
- In its November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, the USDA reduced from October its forecast of U.S. sugar ending stocks for 2026-27, and reduced its estimated ending stocks for 2025-26. Domestic use was reduced for 2025-26, with the lower number carried into 2026-27. Domestic production in 2026-27 was reduced by 2.8% from October and by 8.6% from 2025-26. Ending stocks-to-use ratios were reduced for both years.
- The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service cut its sugar production forecast for Brazil by 4 percent to 40.5 million metric tons (MMT), and its sugar export forecast by 4.8 percent to 31.7 MMT
- Spot global sugar futures have pulled back, following a 60% price rally since the beginning of July
Dry Beans
- Domestic dry bean end users have now mostly completed Q2 bookings, according to the most recent updates from cash dealers
- Per the USDA, the 2026 U.S. dry bean harvest wrapped up by late October 2026, marking the smallest crop volume since 2019. Plantings dropped 15.6% year-over-year to 1,153,000 acres, with production forecast at 23.3 million cwt., down 13%
- The latest round of USDA-posted weekly cash offers were 22%-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 mostly complete now through Q2
- Chicago Board of Trade rough rice futures have consolidated slightly below recent peaks
- El Niño-linked weather patterns and rainfall deficits could potentially threaten rice crops in key exporters like India, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, according to analysts
Flour
- The wheat markets were steady this week
- The USDA’s November supply/demand reports were bullish for corn and neutral for wheat, as both markets are stabilizing after recent sharp losses, according to analysts
- According to the USDA, winter wheat planting is 89% complete, compared to 83% last week and the five-year average of 90%
- According to the weekly Crop Conditions report, the USDA rated the winter wheat crop 49% good-to-excellent, up from 44% the prior week, and the highest rating for this time of year in seven years
- The USDA set baseline winter wheat acreage for 2027/2028 at 44.0 million acres, up from 42.5 million in 2026/2027. Most private analysts expect over 46 million planted acres for 2027/2028
- U.S. wheat prices remain very uncompetitive to non-captive destinations for export, despite the recent price decline, 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.