Wheat price commentary: US, European futures edge lower, plus global cash markets steady amid thin trade

US wheat futures and Euronext contracts moved lower on Friday April 24, as profit taking and technical selling weighed on prices. Global cash markets were largely steady, with some trade reported across European origins, though broader sentiment remained cautious, with participants describing conditions as thin.

By 1pm US Eastern time, the Chicago soft red winter (SRW) May futures contract on the Chicago Board of Trade decreased by 5.50 cents per bushel to $6.05 per bu, and the July contract moved down by 6.25 cents per bu to $6.14 per bu.

The Kansas hard red winter (HRW) May futures contract fell by 6 cents per bu to $6.60 per bu, and the July contract moved down by 11.25 cents per bu to $6.68 per bu.

The Minneapolis hard red spring May futures contract shifted down by 1 cent per bu to $6.73 per bu, and the July contract decreased by 1.25 cents per bu to $6.90 per bu.

Euronext wheat futures were lower, with May 2026 down by €1.50 per tonne to €195.25 ($228.50) per tonne, while September 2026 was down by €0.75 per tonne to close at €209.25 per tonne.

In the Black Sea, selling ideas for Russian 12.5% protein wheat were unchanged at $242-244 per tonne FOB Novorossiysk-Taman-Tuapse (NTT) for May loading, while buying ideas were heard up to $239 per tonne on the same terms.

In Ukraine, offers for 11.5% wheat were heard at $234-236 per tonne FOB Pivdennyi-Odesa-Chornomorsk (POC) for May loading, while bids were heard at $230-231 per tonne.

On the delivered markets, selling ideas were heard at $269 per tonne for June loading CFR Algeria.

New-crop August-loading offers for 11.5% wheat remained at $233 per tonne FOB POC.

Constanta-Varna-Burgas (CVB) markets were quiet on Friday, with activity largely limited to spot positions as participants showed little appetite to push either nearby or forward business.

Constanta-Varna-Burgas offers for prompt shipment

Offers were reported across Constanta-Varna-Burgas for prompt shipment, but bids remained thin and well below seller ideas, leaving the market largely inactive.

Despite some offers being available, the bid-offer spread remained too wide for workable trade to occur, with buyers reluctant to chase values and sellers showing limited flexibility.

Wheat markets saw a slow day overall, with activity largely subdued across European origins.

Despite the subdued tone, some trade was reported, with German and Baltic wheat changing hands at €3 per tonne above the September MATIF contract.

Market participants said that, after a prolonged tug of war over pricing, buyers and sellers were able to find workable levels, allowing limited business to emerge.

However, broader sentiment remained cautious, with most participants describing the market as thin and largely awaiting a clearer direction.

French 11% protein wheat was assessed at a discount of €6 per tonne to the September contract for June loading.

Polish 12.5% wheat cargo premiums were assessed at a premium of €1 per tonne to the September Euronext wheat contract for June loading.

Baltic FOB 12.5% wheat cargo premiums were assessed at €3 per tonne over the September Euronext wheat contract for June loading.

The German 12.5% FOB wheat APM for June loading was assessed at €3 per tonne above the September Euronext contract due to offers of €4-5 per tonne and a deal conducted at €3 per tonne. No data was excluded.

The German 11.5% FOB wheat APM for June loading was assessed at parity with the September Euronext contract due to an uptick in corresponding markets. No data was excluded.

The 11% FOB US Gulf HRW premiums were unchanged, with June at $1.20 per bu over the July Kansas HRW futures contract and July at $1.15 per bu over the same contract.

The 10.5% FOB US Gulf SRW premiums were steady, with June at 70 cents per bu over the July Chicago SRW futures contract and July at 60 cents per bu over the same contract.

The 10% FOB Pacific Northwest soft white wheat market was also steady, with June at $246 per tonne and July at $244 per tonne.

Canadian western red spring 13.5% FOB Vancouver front-month premiums were unchanged, with both June and July at 93 cents per bu over the July Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGEX) futures.

Canadian durum prices were steady, with 14.5% cargoes at $280 per tonne FOB Vancouver and $295 per tonne FOB St Lawrence.

In South America, Argentine wheat and barley prices remained broadly unchanged on Friday.

Fastmarkets Agriculture understands the challenges faced by the grains and oilseeds industry due to disruptions in production and logistics. As global demand for food, livestock and machinery continues to rise, these disruptions cause increased opacity and volatility in the market. Discover more.

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