Orion Farming Group Weekly Straights Update: 14th August 2026
- Joe Cobb
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
The figures in the charts are an indication only and reflect levels traded on Wednesday.
Hipro Soya
Prices came under further pressure from wetter forecasts for the US corn belt at the end of last week and further rains forecast over the next 7 days.
There is potential that the USDA may downgrade yield estimates in Wednesday’s report, with trade expectations around 52.9bpa.
South American farmers still remain reluctant sellers keeping premiums supported.
Chinese buying interest remains with the US and as a result has kept a floor in North American values over the past few weeks.
China has the highest stock of soyabeans for a decade and were auctioning off 516,000T of imported soybeans to make space for US arrivals.
Rapemeal
Mixed week as markets struggled to balance supply across Europe due the ongoing river levels and export issues from the Black Sea, with keeping prices in order to maintain some demand from feed rations, (against soya and distillers).
Low river levels will resolve themselves at some point, obviously rain dependant, the Black Sea situation is unlikely to resolve itself soon.
Seed will need to find other routes into Europe either by road or rail or a combination of all three!
This all adds to costs, but whilst there is available domestic supply in the short term, further down the line there could be a pinch point.
Rapemeal still needs to maintain some competitiveness against other feedstuffs.
Soya hulls
Due to the continued drought in the UK demand for fibres is increasing for spot and winter as forage stocks are being assessed.
This is the same across Europe due to the expected lack of sugarbeet this winter.
Distillers
Prices are unlikely to ease back to the levels seen last month.
US ports are prioritising single product shipments to maximise efficiency and are also hoping for further Chinese purchases, pushing up shipping costs on the Mississippi.
As winter approaches, plants are expected to reduce the amount of dry distillers produced and increase wet product.
Sugarbeet
No change. Continued dry weather and a reduced acreage.
Wheat/Barley
Another mixed week for wheat prices, ending marginally higher, while news of further strikes in the Black Sea struggled to push prices any higher.
Suggestions are that the war premium and impact on exports has been priced in, though a long way from the highs of £350/T before retreating in May 2022, when the war first started.
Russian exports for July were down 37.6% with wheat down 17.7%.Last week was an uncertain one for prices as initially prices struggled to make a play in either direction.
This was down to a lack of resolution for the issues surrounding exports via the Black Sea, but also with prices having risen so much, whether enough was now priced in.
There was some profit taking especially on the US market at the end of last week.
Without any positive developments for Ukrainian and Russian exports, it’s unlikely prices will ease further or quickly.
And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the week…
The Thuggees, a 19th-century Indian gang, killed at least a million people. Their favourite weapon was a handkerchief and counterfeiters in medieval Russia were punished by having their coins melted and the molten metal poured down their throats.
Notes: All figures in this report are provided by KW and commentary by GLW Feeds.
Price indications are based on 29t bulk tipped loads delivered to Oxfordshire and are guide prices only.
