Pumpkinseed kernels

Steady increase in prices continues as sales are made for all grades. The differentials between shine skin ‘A’ and ‘AA’ grades are about as wide as we have ever seen, standing at +/- $1000/mt. Whereas the GWS differential remain quite tight. The obvious impact is an increase in demand for SS A on export markets.

Tariffs still impact demand for this product from USA buyers.

Linseed

As reported the easing of the border issues with Poland meant large quantities of Kazakhstan material arrived in December, earlier than previous years probably driven by the changing duty levels on Russian material. This now stands as a 10% export levy and a 50% import levy. EU crushers will need to source from alternate regions. China of course is an easier destination for exporters and will benefit from cheap Russian material and similar for Kazakhstan product which will have to complete.

Sesame seed

The market has been quiet over the holiday period, but local demands in India is increasing to service the festivals in January. This will keep prices firm on the export market for now despite the quiet demand.

Central America is collecting its crop now too and continuing the trend of recent years where quality is good, quantity is steadily declining in favour of alternate more readily saleable crops.

Chinese demand has also been quiet, even for Brazilian seed which is their new focus. We shall see if this picks up early in 2026.

For India attention will turn to what the forecasted plantings will be for their summer crop due in April. Followed by Brazil a couple of months later.

Hulled Millet

Prices steadily climb as we have been advising due to crop reductions in Ukraine. Raw material is being held back by farmers wanting to capitalise on the situation. Nothing significant is likely to change in the short term now as other origins such as USA continue to be uncompetitive or are happy following the rising price trend for their stocks.

Sunflower

A steady market with little change over the last weeks. The major reduction in demand from China is the most significant factor keeping prices relatively low. Lacklustre demand elsewhere compounds the situation for kernels, whereas the oil market remains firm.

Raw material prices are firming and Turkey has introduced a new quota of 1,000,000 tonnes of duty-free requirement for the oil market.

Ukrainian oil facilities have been damaged in recent weeks reducing their oil crushing capacity too.

Poppy

Again, a fairly steady supply situation, split between confectionary and pharmaceutical grades for pricing depending on the requirement for alkaloid levels.

New crop Australian is being harvested now but won’t be available in EU/UK/USA until mid summer when EU harvests arrive too. So, for now we are all running on available stockholdings which are diminishing. So, prices will depend on if these inventories run short before replenishment with new crop. Hard to predict.

Quinoa

The higher prices have led to a decline in demand tempering the market price. This has been supported by the small November crop in Peru too. The high prices have encouraged farmers back to Quinoa for the new season. Early frost has been experienced in the growing regions, but we hope they will have minimal impact on the plants.

Red and black varieties are in a very tight supply situation keeping prices very high.

Chia

Prices remain stable in Paraguay with material being released by farmers to support cash flow requirements. Demand continues to be positive from USA despite the complications of tariff implications. Supplies are still being offered by Argentina and Bolivia too.

India will play a bigger roll on the supply side in 2026, with the Southern Indian crop harvesting now.

Organic material remains very scarce and keeps prices very high for physical material.