Falling demand leads to decline in UK wheat imports
Feed Wheat
AHDB estimates this week indicated a 28% decline in UK wheat imports for 2025/26, driven by a drop in demand in the UK bioethanol sector and a larger domestic wheat crop.
The January 2026 London feed wheat contract closed Monday at £166.15 and has fallen away through the week under pressure of high global wheat supply, closing Thursday at £165.35.
Our benchmark price for Midlands feed wheat sits at £167, having fallen back £1 from the previous week. However, we've seen prices above that for December 2025 movement: in the West Midlands, farmers received offers up to £177 with a £6 range, and in the East Midlands, offers reached £175.50 with an £8.50 range.
Farmers have been selling their 2026 feed wheat on Hectare Trading, achieving £188.50 in North East Scotland for July 2027 movement. For this year’s crop, we’ve seen £184 offered in Northumberland & Scottish Borders, moving next July.
Milling Wheat
Following a mixed harvest year, the quality of the domestic UK wheat crop has been characterised by AHDB as good. Protein levels for milling wheat are generally high, so UK millers are less likely to rely on imports.
Paris milling wheat (December 2025) closed last week at €189.75 (£166.25) and has struggled to make gains this week, reaching €189.00 (£165.60) at Thursday’s close.
On Hectare Trading, group 1 wheat received offers up to £190 in the West Midlands, for movement next May, with an offer range of £4. Also moving in May, we saw offers up to £184 for group 1 wheat in Essex & Hertfordshire, also with a £4 offer range.
In East Anglia, group 3 wheat raised £180 for May 2026 movement, while in the West Midlands, group 4 (hard) wheat gained offers up to £184, with a £6 offer range. Group 4 (soft) wheat achieved £181 in North East Scotland, moving next April.
Oilseeds
Global rapeseed production estimates continue to rise, including this week’s raised forecast in Western Australia of 4.3Mt, up 50% on last year. This creates a heavy supply sentiment that limits the price upside for UK growers.
After dipping at the end of last week to €479.00 (£419.68), Paris rapeseed (February 2026) has recovered this week to stand at €483.25 (£423.41) by the end of Thursday.
OSR achieved £420 on Hectare Trading in Northumberland & Scottish Borders, for movement in March 2026.
Other Crop
Human and industrial usage of barley in the UK is forecast to fall by 7% this year to 1.667 Mt, a 16-year low. The BMD sector in particular has been hit by the cost-of-living crisis and changing drinking habits in the younger generation.
Feed barley received offers up to £165 in Yorkshire and the Humber moving next February, while malting barley also achieved £165, in the South East for movement in April.
Feed beans gained £210 in Essex & Hertfordshire, with a £5 offer range, for movement next month. Finally, milling oats achieved £122 in Northumberland & Scottish Borders, for movement next January.
Wanted Crop
🌾 203t Feed Barley is wanted for collection for a home in Devon. £160 -£170/t ex-farm depending on location, for March/April movement.
🌾 116t feed barley required for collection for homes across England and Southern Scotland, for December 2025 to April 2026 movement. Price upon application. All qualities considered.
This article is for general information only and is not an instruction to trade. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the content at the time of publication, Hectare Trading makes no guarantee regarding the data provided.