Sugar
- According to cash traders, bulk sugar offers for 2025-26 remained steady for both beet and cane sugar over the last week, with minimal new crop bookings
- In its weekly Crop Progress Report, the USDA said 12% of the sugar beet crop in four major growing states was planted as of April 19, up from 9% a week earlier, but behind both the year-ago pace of 20% and the five-year average progress for the date of 18%
- The spot global sugar futures traded at their lowest level this week since September 2020
Dry Beans
- Domestic dry bean end users have completed their Q3 coverage needs and are assessing Q4 offers, according to this week’s updates from cash dealers
- According to the USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report released on March 31, dry bean acreage is estimated to decline by 10% for the 2026 crop year to 1.24 million acres, in order to reduce oversupply
- The latest round of USDA-posted weekly cash offers were 11%-13% 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 currently complete through Q3, with end users assessing offers for Q4
- Per the USDA, 2026 domestic planted rice area is expected to fall 18%
- Although the spot rice futures market has steadied in recent weeks, it remains 18% lower than last year at this time
Flour
- The wheat markets were higher this week. Spot Kansas City futures are up 21% year-to-date
- According to the USDA’s weekly winter wheat crop report, released April 20, 30% of the crop was rated good-to-excellent, down from 34% last week and 45% last year. Top grower Kansas fell 8% week-over-week
- Per the USDA, the spring wheat crop is 12% planted, up from 6% the previous week and compared to the five-year average of 12%
- Wheat market participants remain focused on rainfall totals for the U.S. Southern Plains through April and May, the two most critical months for winter wheat crop moisture needs, according to analysts
- According to UkrAgroConsult, the government of India has approved an additional 2.5 million tons of wheat exports, to a total of 5 million, after lifting a more than four-year ban on shipments. The food ministry said the move is aimed at stabilizing domestic prices and preventing distress sales by farmers