Orion Farming Group Weekly Straights Update: 19th March 2026
- Orion Farming Group
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
The figures in the charts are an indication only and reflect levels traded on Wednesday.
Click on a product name for more information
In the main, prices increased due to rising oil prices but there was some influence from other factors.
Nearby prices are likely to stay at a premium given shippers are inclined to run their book short ahead of cheaper new crop shipments in May.
Following a request from the Chinese government, Brazil has brought in stricter inspections for soybeans heading to China.
This pushed Chicago prices up as it may put some Chinese demand back to the US.
On the other hand, the additional 8MMT that Trump announced China would buy has yet to materialise and there is now talk it comes in the form of non-soya products.
There are also question marks over future talks between the two nations, due to China’s reluctance to aid Trump with the reopening the Straits of Hormuz.
Last week’s USDA report set ending stocks higher but in line with expectations.
Brazilian and Argentinian soya production was kept at similar levels to the previous month.
Similar to soya, rapemeal was dragged higher by oil prices due to the Middle East conflict.
Fundamentally, no changes, spot prices remain a premium due to Erith’s continued closure and fixings are tight from Liverpool.
Generally, there is a bit more imported material around, but prices are holding steady.
Nothing official yet on an Erith restart date but they are offering more competitive prices on May/Jul, which suggests they hope to be back up and running by then.
Forward prices have also moved higher with the rest of the soya complex, (due to oil prices).
Nearby prices have also started to tighten up a little.
Shippers are likely to continue to run stocks tight ahead of getting discounted new crop shipments in May.
Distillers have also pulled higher due to the increased value of feedstocks into ethanol supplies from higher oil prices.
This is not expected to improve until things ease in the Middle East, given the US were already drying and exporting less product, (due to carbon credits for ethanol production, not so much the oil price).
Minimal offers for the summer and home produced offers look unlikely.
Next winter pricing looks likely to be similar to last winter, given the lower acreage in the UK and a lack of appetite for imported product on-farm.
A mixed couple of weeks as markets rose and fell depending on the likelihood of the war in Iran ending sooner, (or not looking likely to end).
It drags energy products along with it as they are used for feedstocks for ethanol production.
Last week brought a new USDA report which was a dud in terms of fresh news – unchanged wheat ending stocks for the US.
Fundamentally, globally S&D remains unchanged, but focus has entirely shifted to geopolitical issues and oil values.
Domestically, barley remains harder to come by due to strong demand.
And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the week…….The most money you can fit in a standard-sized briefcase is $780,000 and a nanosecond is to a second what a second is to 32 years.
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.
For firm prices and availability, please contact Joe Cobb on 01865 393 139
Currency Trends as of 04.02.26 Blue = GBP:USD. Red = GBP:EUR
