Orion Farming Group Weekly Straights Update: 24th April 2025

The figures in the charts are an indication only and reflect levels traded on Wednesday.

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Hipro Soya

Prices eased back mainly on the improved currency as there was minimal fresh news.
US soybeans are at 8% plantings which is roughly in line with last year.
The Argentinian harvest progressed to 22% complete, as better weather allowed farmers to crack on and initial yields look better than expected.
Currently the S&D picture looks good with good supplies globally.
Nearby availability of meal is a little tighter in the UK due to shippers awaiting new crop vessels in May, (which comes at a discounted price).
Some good levels available through to the end of summer.

Rapemeal

Prices remained at similar levels with no new news overall.
Imported rapemeal/pellet prices are still competing into the northern and southwest areas.
Compared to hipro soya, Erith looks a little dearer, with old crop coming in at 67-69% of the soya price and new crop between 64-67%.
The premium for Nov/Jan over Aug/Oct still seems pretty big and similarly for Feb/Apr 26.

Soya hulls

Prices are currently relatively static.
Availability should begin to ease over the coming weeks as April shipments come in shortly and also new crop shipments will be seen throughout May.
Realistically it may take until Jun/Jul for prices to start to reduce more significantly, as a lot of the tonnage due in over the next month is already sold.
Additionally, Argentinian crushers should get going over the next month as harvest progresses.

Distillers

Imported prices eased back a little as currency improved.
Availability for wheat distillers remains tight through to mid-summer, with little being brought in and no Vivergo summer offer as yet.
Ensus distillers are available for the summer, with prices competing against imported levels.
US ethanol production margins are at break-even, which won’t incentivise additional selling/pressure on distiller prices.
Equally, shippers are wary of committing to US material, in case of reciprocal tariffs from the UK/EU onto US agricultural products.

Sugarbeet

Limited availability continues and looks set to continue through the summer.
Imported prices are around but look expensive against other fibres.

Wheat/Barley

Markets were a bit more range-bound over the past week, but ended lower overall.
A slightly more bearish weather picture in the US, (rain in dry regions), though only 45% of the winter wheat crop is in good/excellent condition.
Poor export demand has also kept pressure on the European markets.
The European wheat crop still looks good, with 75% of the French crop in good/excellent condition.

And finally, totally irrelevant but quite interesting facts of the week…….

A marshmallow travelling at sea level would not begin to melt from friction caused by air resistance until it reached Mach 1.6 (1,218 mph) and the rooster on the Corn Flakes box is called Cornelius. They chose a rooster because the word ceiliog, Welsh for cockerel, sounds a bit like Kellogg.

Notes:

All figures in this report are provided by KW and commentary by GLW Feeds. Price indications are based on 29t bulk tipped loads delivered to Oxfordshire and are guide prices only.

For firm prices and availability, please contact Joe Cobb on 01865 393 139