Sugar
- U.S. cash traders reported that bulk sugar price offers for the 2026-27 new crop remain firm for both beet and cane sugar this week, with low trading volume. Some spot sugar trading was reported at steady levels
- According to Market Screener, the global sugar market is projected to show a larger deficit than previously forecast in the new season that starts in October, broker and analyst StoneX said on Tuesday. StoneX revised its deficit estimate to 1.7 million metric tons, from a previous projection of 0.55 million tons, saying that a hot and dry summer will cut European production, while drier weather from the El Niño weather pattern will hurt output in India and Thailand
- To maintain a mandated 13.5% stocks-to-use ratio, the U.S. is offsetting local deficits by increasing imports, primarily from Mexico, according to analysts
Dry Beans
- Domestic dry bean end users are pushing their coverage well into Q4, according to this week’s updates from cash dealers
- Demand remains moderate, with light overall spot trading activity as the market transitions between old and new crop positioning, according to analysts
- The latest round of USDA-posted weekly cash offers were 4%-7% 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 through the fourth quarter
- The USDA Economic Research Service projects U.S. rice production for the 2026/27 marketing year down to 153.3 million hundredweight, marking a 39-year low, driven by shrinking harvested acreage
- The USA Rice Federation announced that rice imports from Thailand will now be subject to a 12.5 percent initial duty, while rice imports from India, Pakistan and the European Union will be subject to an initial 10 percent duty
- According to the Economic Times, India's rice exports rose 5% in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier, as higher shipments of non-basmati rice offset a drop in basmati exports after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted trade with key Gulf markets, two government officials said. India, which accounts for more than 40% of world rice exports, usually ships more than the combined exports of the next three biggest suppliers (Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan)
Flour
- The wheat markets were lower through Wednesday of this week, as the market saw some profit-taking after a 27% rally in July
- Three major Russian Black Sea grain export terminals have restricted grain deliveries by truck amid rising shipping risks in the Black Sea and increased flows following restrictions in the Sea of Azov, five industry sources told Reuters. Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, restricted shipping through the Sea of Azov this month after Ukrainian drones attacked several Russian grain vessels on the route, which handles about a quarter of the country's grain exports.
- According to the Japan Times, Europe is set to suffer one of its sharpest-ever declines in grain production, as extreme weather and geopolitical tensions converge to pile pressure on farmers. As a result, the European Union’s total grains output may shrink by more than 9% this year, according to lobby group Coceral, which would be the steepest annual drop in more than two decades
- According to the weekly Crop Conditions report, the USDA reported that harvesting of the winter wheat crop is 81% complete, up from 74% the previous week and above the five-year average of 79%
- Also according to the weekly Crop Conditions report, the USDA rated the spring wheat crop, 2% of which has been harvested, 53% good-to-excellent, compared to 53% last week and 49% a year ago
- U.S. wheat prices remain very uncompetitive to non-captive destinations for export, according to analysts