Pumpkinseed kernels

Prices steadily rise as inventory from 2025 harvest declines and it is likely there will be limited carry over into 2026/27 crop period. Planting is completed and at best the forecast matches demand of about 250,000mt but we have a long way to go until harvest and this situation will not improve, so at best supply equals demand.

As inventory declines problems increase and this means greater challenges finding pesticide compliant lots making EU/UK supplies particularly difficult.

Linseed

Sowing has started in Kazakhstan, and all indications are for a larger crop than 2025 to meet the increased demand they have experienced due to sanctions imposed on Russian material in EU/UK. The supplies have held up keeping prices under pressure on brown and limiting increases in golden linseed.

Canada has re entered the EU supply market due to changes in sampling protocol, but for consumption buyers Cadmium and HCN should remain an issue limiting this origin as an option. Bu as Canada approaches the end of their supply season prices are edging upwards. The crop in India appears disappointing and prices are unusually firm for this region. We do see domestic demand impacting here.

Sesame seed

The main interest currently is the state of the Brazilian harvest; this will impact the global supply situation for the coming year. Last season Brazil had a huge harvest, some estimated making in 600,000mt. The impact was to collapse prices globally and to take the Chinese market from Pakistan and others. This season the crop is going to be significantly lower partly though less planting as unfavourable pricing switch farmers back to more conventional crops and also some unseasonal weather patterns. We are in the midst of harvest now, but there is no doubt sesame has lifted off the bottom level and will not return this season.

In India prices have increased too in local market yards and India winning some of the recent 20,0000mt Korean tender has bolstered this trend. India has recovered some of the USA and EU market share in recent months driven by price competitiveness and consistent quality. Whilst trading at a premium it does meet all expectations on delivery now due to the efforts over recent years to control export quality by the IOPEPC.

African regions, Sudan, Chad, Ethiopia continue to be challenged by various conflicts and famines. Whilst good quality natural sesame is available the consistency of supply makes it difficult working with these regions.

Central American supplies are very limited now with no new seed due until December 2026.

Hulled Millet

Very limited material left in the market with several processors withdrawn until new crop and just fulfilling previous contracts. Prices are therefore high for nearby deliveries. The future does not look too rosy either with Ukraine the primary origin forecasting reduced plantings for 2026 as well as a late harvest due to delayed planting. This might give other origins normally seen as too expensive a chance to enter EU markets. Time will tell, but certainly 2026/27 prices will be higher.

Sunflower

There is unlikely to be any carryover from the 2025 crop into 2026/27 and already raw material supply is challenging for processors. Several facilities in Bulgaria have closed for the season or for good. To supplement the supply Bulgaria imported seed as earlier reported from Argentina, but it was pesticide contaminated and as we have recently seen Turkey has experienced similar problems with this origin and rejected cargoes.

For 2026 harvest things are so far so good for local supplies and the excessive heat of the last two seasons has been avoided, so hopefully good harvests are expected. We do not expect a significant price decline however, especially early on due to latent demand from this season. Farmers will probably hold back sales until closer to harvest hoping to pick up good levels.

Poppy

Prices are as good as we have seen for several years due to the decline in demand for all grades. Processors are yet to release pricing for the 2026 harvest material so a lot of uncertainty from September onwards. As ever poppy is unpredictable with significant upward spikes occurring and whilst we do not forecast this, it is not impossible this year.

Quinoa

Strong demand is keeping prices firm despite new material starting to come to processors yards and from Bolivia, although this origin generally asks for premium prices.

Red and Black quinoa prices are climbing steeply since harvest due to tight availability and this will likely continue for the foreseeable future.

Chia

Paraguay is optimistic this season with favourable weather outlooks until harvest which is almost upon us. Processors are therefore floating slightly discounted prices in anticipation. However, we have been here before (2025!), so the coming month is critical. New crop supplies will not arrive at destinations until Q4/2026 so until then we rely on inventory and Indian shipments.

In India the crop was bigger than before but demand, especially locally has increased prices by +30% making it similar to South America and thus less attractive. It threatens a gap in supply over August/September since importers will be reluctant to pay such premium for this origin.