Sterling strength puts pressure on wheat
Feed Wheat
A rise in sterling this week has pressured domestic wheat prices by making exports more expensive and imports cheaper. UK growers are facing a ceiling on price potential due to harvest upgrades in Argentina and Australia.
London feed wheat (January 2026) hit a contract low of £163.70 on Monday, before recovering slightly to close Thursday at £164.00.
On Hectare Trading, we’ve seen feed wheat achieving £185 in Central Scotland for March 2027 movement, and offers up to £180 for movement next March in the West Midlands, with an offer range of £8.
Milling Wheat
Milling premiums remain low as demand tightens ahead of Christmas. Paris milling wheat (December 2025) dropped to its lowest close since September on Monday, at €186.75 (£163.05), and after two days of recovery eased back on Thursday to finish at €192.50 (£168.07).
Group 1 wheat received offers up to £180 in Essex & Hertfordshire for movement next April, with a £5 offer range, while group 2 wheat also gained £180 in Yorkshire and the Humber for March 2026 movement, with an offer range of £7.
Moving next May, group 3 wheat achieved £171 in Central Scotland. We also saw offers up to £175 for group 4 (hard) wheat in Yorkshire and the Humber, moving in February 2026, with a £3 offer range. Next year’s group 4 (soft) wheat achieved £175 in North East Scotland, to move in February 2027.
Oilseeds
With drilling conditions better than last year, the first AHDB condition report for harvest 2026 rated 82% of the UK winter oilseed rape crop as good or excellent. However, UK prices face headwinds from improved global production estimates.
This pressure was also felt in the French market, where Paris rapeseed (February 2026) fell to €478.00 (£417.34) on Wednesday, and falling further on Thursday, closing at €474.50 (£414.28).
On Hectare Trading, OSR gained £416 in Northumberland & Scottish Borders, for movement in March 2026.
Other crop
News of the excellent establishment of the UK winter barley crop was tempered by a surge in Southern Hemisphere supply, limiting the potential for major price rallies. Similarly, 87% of UK winter oats were rated good or excellent at present.
Feed barley achieved £164.50 in Northumberland & Scottish Borders, moving next April, while in the South East, malting barley received £143.50 for May 2026 movement. In the East Midlands, milling oats gained £140, to move in July 2026.
Wanted Crop
🌾 270t feed barley is wanted for collection for homes across the South West, for December, January and February movement with a guide price of £160 to £165.
🌾 500t feed wheat required for collection from Herefordshire, for January movement with prices from £172 to £175.
🌾 270t feed wheat is wanted for collection for homes across the South West, for December movement. Price upon application.
🌾 203t feed wheat required for collection for a livestock home in the North West, for December, January and February movement. Prices from £170 to £175.
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.