Coöperatie CZAV announced today (Thursday 8 June) the pool prices for grain. Growers' expectations were high with wheat prices touching €350 per ton on the Matif shortly after harvest. Has the grain collector lived up to the growers' high expectations?
The final pool price for baking wheat in the CZAV pool is €272 per tonne. This wheat has a minimum hectoliter weight of 76 kilos and a protein percentage of at least 12,5%. For milling and spring wheat, participants receive €270 per tonne and feed wheat amounts to €264 per tonne. The prices are based on 15% moisture. For wheat supplied with less than 14% moisture, the weight is corrected. The highest price in the CZAV pool overview is for (Planet) malting barley at €290 per tonne. Feed barley ultimately yields €255 per tonne in the pool.
Difficult market
The growing season went well according to the CZAV and the average wheat yield in the cooperative's working area was well above 10 tons per hectare. The quality of the malting barley was very variable. The protein levels were especially low. According to the CZAV, high prices and large fluctuations created a new dynamic on the grain market. Industry buyers were cautious and less willing to buy far in advance. Compared to expectations at the start of the market, the CZAV calls the market development disappointing for grain growers.
The market prices for grain from the new harvest (2023) are now significantly lower compared to last season. Due to the increased costs, the price is now significantly below the cost price according to the CZAV. According to the cooperative, it is impossible to predict which direction the market will move in the near future. In Europe, grains appear to be in good shape for the most part, but in America there are concerns about drought. Grain stocks appear to be being replenished, but with all the geopolitical uncertainties, the market remains very unpredictable, according to CZAV.