Northern Ireland weekly market report - 17 February 2025

17 February 2025

Grains

UK feed wheat futures (May-25)

May-25 UK feed wheat futures are in line with the 20-day rolling average price. If the average price continues to drift lower, we could see the domestic market dip below the recent support level.

Market drivers

UK feed wheat futures (May-25) fell £0.25/t over the week (Friday-Friday) to close at £189.40/t. The Nov-25 contract gained £2.05/t, settling at £198.00/t. Domestic prices mainly followed Paris milling futures (May-25), which were flat over the week (Friday-Friday).

Weather risk continued to influence prices last week. On the one hand, low temperatures are forecast for Russia and the US next week, which could pose a risk to winter crops where snow cover is inadequate. On the other hand, recent rains in Argentina could improve maize crop conditions.

Saudi Arabia’s state purchasing agency the General Food Security Authority (GFSA) bought 920 Kt of 12.5% protein wheat, more than the planned 595 Kt. The wheat was purchased at an average price of $276.37/t cost and freight (LSEG). Romanian, Bulgarian and Russian wheat will account for the majority of the purchase.

The pace of wheat exports from Russia has slowed significantly over the past three months, providing some support to markets. The decline in exports is underpinned by export quotas and production losses.

The USDA export sales report for the week ending 6 February, showed net wheat export sales near the top of trade estimates at 569.6 Kt, up 45% from the previous four week average. For maize, net export sales neared the top of trade estimates at 1.65 Mt up 20.0% from the prior four week average.

Fundamentally, maize prices are supported by 10-year low global maize ending stocks (USDA). However, US tariffs remain a concern and the upside potential for maize is limited. The Chicago futures market is closed today due to the President's Day holiday in the US.

FranceAgriMer showed that 73% of winter wheat was in good or excellent condition on 10 February, slightly above the historic low level of 68% a year ago. For winter barley, 68% is in good or excellent condition, down from 71% in the same week last year. For spring barley, 23% was planted by 10 February, up from 20% last year, and in line with the five year average of 24%.

Futures prices are indicative, and not representative of physical trading values.

Rapeseed

Paris rapeseed futures in £/t (May-25)

May-25 Paris rapeseed futures continued to trade within recent resistance and support levels last week, suggesting a chance to ease back market focus. Upside potential seems limited, with Brazil’s record soyabean harvest underway, and uncertainty surrounding further US tariff announcements.

Market drivers

Old crop (May-25) Paris rapeseed futures ended the week at £438.34/t, rising £7.82/t from the previous Friday. The Nov-25 contract saw smaller gains, up £3.07/t, finishing Friday at £411.08/t. Paris rapeseed futures showed a divergence from Chicago soybean futures last week, underpinned by lower production in the EU.

Last week, France's Agricultural Ministry reported a reduction in winter rapeseed area for the 2025 harvest to 1.27 Mha, down from 1.34 Mha, adding some support to European prices.

LSEG maintained its Ukrainian rapeseed production forecast at 3.2 Mt. However, warm and dry conditions over the past two weeks, have led to the lowest soil moisture levels in six years. Due to limited snow cover, this also leaves the crop exposed to upcoming cold spells.

In its monthly WASDE report, the USDA maintained its US soybean stock forecast at 10.3 Mt, slightly above analysts' average estimate of 10.1 Mt, putting downward pressure on prices, and likely limiting support for rapeseed. US soybean exports were also weak, with net sales of 185.5 Kt for the week ending 6 February, 74% below the four-week average and outside trade estimates (300-800 Kt), according to Reuters.

Conab slightly reduced Brazil's soybean production forecast to 166.01 Mt, from 166.32 Mt previously, due to crop losses caused by dry weather. ABIOVE expects Brazil's soybean crush to rise to 57.5 Mt in February, up from 57.1 Mt in January, while maintaining the production forecast at 171.7 Mt.

Heavy rains in Argentina this February are expected to limit further crop losses, according to the Rosario Grains Exchange. Dry conditions in recent months across the country have underpinned the market. The exchange estimates Argentina’s 2024/25 soybean production at 47.5 Mt, compared to the USDA’s estimate of 49.0 Mt.