WEEKLY MARKET & PRICE NEWS Arable Products| Feed & Livestock | Fuel & Energy
1 OCTOBER 2026
Market at a glance
Markets remain volatile, but there has been some easing in fuel prices over the past seven days. Feed markets remain considerably tighter, with global supply, weather, logistics, currency and geopolitical developments continuing to influence UK prices.
GBP/USD 1.33 | GBP/EUR 1.16 | Brent Crude $103.34
Reports from our desks.
Arable Products
Stuart Goodinson
Fuel & Energy
Phil Shirley
Feed & Livestock
Joe Cobb
.
Price indications are based on 29t bulk tipped loads delivered to Oxfordshire and are guide prices only.
Here is this week’s Orion Farming Group market snapshot.
MARKET AT A GLANCE
London Wheat £203.00/t
January 2027 futures: £205.25/t
Soymeal $358.50 Still substantially above the levels seen three months ago and a year ago.
Brent Crude $103.34/barrel Remaining elevated despite some easing in Orion’s average fuel prices during the week.
Sterling £1 = approximately $1.33 / €1.16
The latest GLW market report shows London wheat at £203/t compared with £177.25/t three months ago, soymeal at $358.50 compared with $299.50 three months ago, and Brent crude at $103.34 compared with $73.61 three months ago.
ARABLE PRODUCTS
Herbicides
Supply of aclonifen-based herbicides, including products such as Proclus, Bandur and Emerger, is coming under pressure because of national demand.
Orion watchpoint
Consider planning and booking requirements ahead rather than relying on later availability.
Fertiliser
Nitrogen prices continue to move upwards.
AN / Nitram: approximately £475/tUrea: approximately £470/t
Both are currently showing an upward trend.
Cereal seed
Seed deliveries are largely on track and many members have already started drilling wheat.
FUEL AND ENERGY
Prices generally lower over the last seven days
Fuel prices have fluctuated on a daily basis but, overall, have moved downwards during the past week.
Average prices from Orion’s two main fuel suppliers, w/c Weds 23rd September
Fuel | Average price |
Gas Oil | 114.57ppl ex VAT |
Kerosene | 105.17ppl ex VAT |
DERV | 161.60ppl ex VAT |
These are average prices rather than live quotations. Orion normally receives updated prices from suppliers by approximately 10.30am each working day, so please contact the office for current pricing.
Delivery lead times
Delivery lead times continue to be good at approximately 3 to 5 working days, depending on supplier and delivery area.
However, these are expected to increase as autumn and winter kerosene demand starts to build.
Kerosene
With autumn now here, it is worth checking kerosene tank levels and planning requirements before seasonal demand increases.
For electricity enquiries, contact Stuart Goodinson at stuart@ofg.org.uk.
FEED & LIVESTOCK
Current Orion pricing
Notes: All figures in this section are provided by KW and commentary by GLW Feeds
WHAT IS DRIVING THE FEED MARKET?
Wheat & barley
Grain markets have traded largely sideways as markets continue to assess developments surrounding Ukraine, Russia and Black Sea trade.
The GLW view is that a more concrete agreement would probably be needed before the market saw meaningful downward pressure.
Maize
Maize has also been relatively steady.
Markets have been watching US-China trade discussions closely. US maize exports have already been strong and additional Chinese purchases could tighten the US supply position further. US harvest progress was reported at around 18%, in line with the five-year average.
HiPro Soya
Slow US harvest progress has helped support soymeal values.
Wet weather has delayed fieldwork and restricted supplies of new-crop beans to crushers, tightening meal availability in the short term. US soybean harvest progress was reported at around 17%, broadly in line with the five-year average.
Markets remain particularly sensitive to further US-China trade developments and US weather.
Rapemeal
Nearby rapemeal prices remain firm.
Very low water levels on the Lower Rhine have restricted European movement of seed and meal, tightening supply chains and affecting the UK market.
European demand is also adding support, while dry conditions have created concerns about the establishment of next season’s oilseed rape crop.
Distillers
Distillers markets remain firm, helped by strong US demand while soymeal availability is restricted.
GLW also reports very limited winter availability of wheat distillers.
FIBRE: ONE TO WATCH
This is probably the most important feed message this week.
Demand for soya hulls remains strong from both compounders and farms, while available offers from shippers are becoming tighter.
At the same time, dry weather has significantly affected sugar beet crops. GLW reports uncertainty over whether a UK farm offer for home-produced sugar beet will emerge, while France is expecting its smallest crop since 1980.
This is pushing additional demand towards alternative fibre sources, including soya hulls.
THIS WEEK’S ORION WATCHLIST
FUEL ↓Average prices have eased over the last seven days, although markets remain volatile.
FIBRE ↑Sugar beet availability is uncertain and demand for alternative fibre sources is increasing.
PROTEINS → / ↑Soya and rapemeal remain supported by supply, weather, logistics and international demand.
FERTILISER ↑AN/Nitram and urea continue to edge higher.
HERBICIDES ⚠ A growing national requirement for aclonifen products is putting pressure on availability.
If winter fibre requirements are not yet covered, it would be sensible to speak to the Orion team about availability and pricing.
GLW’s own assessment is that supply and demand across many feed products is tighter than in recent years, with winter fibre cover particularly important.
CURRENCY Sterling remains an important influence on imported feed and energy costs.
The Orion currency tracker currently has sterling at approximately:
GBP/USD: 1.33GBP/EUR: 1.16
The wider trend has been a weakening of sterling against the US dollar from the levels seen during August.
Because many agricultural commodities and energy products are traded internationally in dollars, a weaker pound can increase the sterling cost of imports even where the underlying commodity price itself has not risen.
NEED A CURRENT PRICE?
Commodity, fuel and input prices can change quickly.
For today’s member prices, availability or delivery information, please contact the Orion Farming Group office.
Market information and prices are provided as a guide and may change without notice. Final prices may vary according to product availability, quantity, delivery location and haulage requirements.
