Orion Farming Group Weekly Straights Update: 29th May 2025

Orion Farming Group
5 days ago
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

Hipro Soya

The market tried to ease back as weather in the US looks more favourable over the coming week for planting and emergence.
Additionally, Trump’s announcement of new tariffs on the EU sparked fears of retaliatory tariffs against US soybeans. The EU is the second biggest market for soybeans after China.
This seems to be unfounded for now, but it’s a timely reminder of how unpredictable the President is!
Argentinian harvest has now reached 74.3% as farmers continue to be delayed by rain, though they still expect to reach production of 50MMT.
Funds are still short and prices are at multi-year lows, so it still seems sensible to take advantage of these prices.

Rapemeal

Prices firmed a little as there seemed to be minimal reason for prices to drift lower and the European market is beginning to tighten up a little as seed supply slows.
More crushers/shippers are now offering meal/pellet option for rapeseed extractions – in all likelihood to maximise their options and to capitalise on cheaper offers if needed.
This has come about from the influx of Canadian canola and rapemeal/pellets into the UK and Europe, though the exports have exceeded expectations from Canada and cuts are likely to be seen to ending stocks there, as a result.
As mentioned before, Canadian seed and extractions have been putting pressure on prices as they compete into the UK/EU markets.
But they don’t compete on price for the winter, hence the reason for larger premiums are being seen for those periods.
With lower ending stocks, it seems less likely prices will drop for now.

Soya hulls

With the progress of the Argentinian harvest still slow, there has not been much supply pressure on hulls pricing as expected.
Supply in the UK is still tighter than is ideal and it looks like that could be the case for a number of months.

Distillers

No progress on the future of the Vivergo and Ensus plants and so there is still no further home produced distillers offers for the summer or next winter.
This looks likely to remain the case for a number of months, unless the UK government responds with some sort of support for the plants.
US ethanol production increased slightly week on week as some plants finished maintenance and margins remain positive for them.
Imported wheat distillers remain limited overall and expensive compared to other protein options.
Imported maize distillers still looks okay value-wise, with minimal change week on week.

Sugarbeet

The market remains unchanged as home produced product is not being offered for the summer and no hints of anything for the winter.
Unsurprising given the smaller acreage and dry weather so far this summer.
Imported material remains limited and expensive against soya hulls.

Wheat/Barley

A mixed week on the futures markets, with some support still from poor/dry weather conditions across the UK, Europe and China/Russia too.
Physical prices have not seen much change as they are still quite a premium over the May and Jul futures levels anyway.
Buying remains sluggish as buyers and sellers remain a ways apart on the prices they each want.
French wheat and barley conditions continue to slip back as the dry weather takes its toll – though some rains were seen midweek, so perhaps this may limit any further falls.
The market also came under some pressure from Russia removing export price floors for new crop.

And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the week…….

A medium-sized tube of toothpaste contains enough chemicals to kill 13 dogs and the ingredient that makes Brussels sprouts bitter is cyanide.

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