Pumpkinseed kernels

New crop supplies have started trading at a premium to old crop as farmer expectations remain firm. This is due to poor weather through harvest times. To combat US trade situation Chinese government has introduced a new funding policy for processing facilities giving them access to cheap loans. This might encourage them to stock up on raw material with the consequence of firming prices further. For sure the next 6 months are going to see higher pricing on pumpkin kernels of all grades.

Organic supplies for EU are going to be extremely tight this season in our opinion.

Linseed

Prices have stabilised as talk of Russia restricting exports by levying an export tax cause concern. This is in addition to the next rise in EU duty on Russian material due on 1^st January 2026. Russia is expecting a significant crop, but these factors will permit Canada to compete into the EU with crushing grade material.

Confectionary grade from Canada is still hard to find to the cleanliness standards required by EU/UK bakeries. The Spector of the GM issues from 2010 remain on this material too.

Harvest news from Kazakhstan is general good, although once again there has been some weather damage.

Sesame seed

The major concern is the continual rain in India where sesame grows. The monsoon should be over, but it keeps raining and planting of sesame is going to be seriously reduced. Estimates indicate we might only get 25% of the normal crop. This will mean India will definitely have to rely on imports to produce their hulled seed. For UK/EU/USA this will be African seed, for domestic demand it will be Brazil. The price difference is significant, but Brazil will not meet the higher requirements for multiple reasons.

Price levels will not return to the lows of August.

This will lead to a general firming of supplies from all regions for hulled sesame. Natural is different, with plenty of stocks in Pakistan, Brazil, Africa but most are not suitable for the markets already mentioned or do not have GFSI cleaning facilities.

Central America is planting now, but we expect the crop to be reduced again as we get used to the developing trend. This keeps the origin at a significant premium over other sources.

Hulled Millet

A combination of reduced planting area in Ukraine after last years huge crop plus drought across the region has seen prices start to rise. Yields and quality have suffered and harvest has been a little delayed too due to adverse conditions.

Organic prices also increase as a consequence of above.

Sunflower

A very nervous year! Russia has a huge crop, but EU/UK cannot access it and it will go for crushing, with oil supplied to other regions. Bulgaria, Ukraine etc. have had a weather stressed crop again. Prices continue to increase with a lot of buyer nervousness and short cover due to unrealistic expectations of market declining further.

We are worried about kernel quality again this season, which impacts the hullers significantly more than the crushers.

Poppy

We are a little concerned about potential supplies for the coming season. A combination of poor quality, slow shipments and lengthening supply chains make the product tricky. Czech supplies are not flowing readily and this is holding the market up.

Quinoa

Prices are increasing rapidly as EU compliant stock is limited. The political situation in Bolivia is disrupting supplies from here to Peru further increasing pressure on the market. We hear Spain is already sold out of their small crop too.

Few other origin options, but India has a developing crop and has some good material which is available and should be considered now.

Chia

A disaster!

We visited Paraguay last month to see the situation for ourselves.

Heavy rain followed by immediate heavy frost led to a 60% loss of the harvest. What was left has a high percentage of brown seeds which need to be removed. But this season’s quality will be worse than usual.

Farmers demand premiums to try and cover losses from the destroyed fields; processors have limited cash availability to stock material further fuelling speculators in raw material.

Paraguay will soon be sold out, with almost twelve months to go before the next crop is available. There are some smaller origins available, but they are reacting to increased demand, so prices climb. It is going to be a difficult year!

Organic for EU, very hard to source and processors are looking towards easier markets.