In the past week nearby prices were up 20 to 30 cents with new crop prices unchanged at the ND crush plants. During the holidays we’ll not likely see a return to normal trade volume on the CBoT until we get to the first full week of January. Potential market movers to watch for this week include another round of weekly export sales data from USDA, which on Wednesday is scheduled to report sales for the week ended December 18. U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for New Year’s Day. The biggest market influencer over the near term looms January 12, when USDA is scheduled to report its Crop Production Annual Summary and Supply and Demand updates, along with several other reports. The annual summary will include “final” 2025 estimates for U.S. sunflowwer production and yields. USDA could also revise 2024 production figures as well.
ADM Enderlin, Cargill West Fargo and Colorado Mills crush plants are offering 2026 new crop cash and Act of God (AOG) High Oleic contracts. ADM is at $22.80 cash and $22.30 AOG. Cargill is at $22.50 cash and $22.00 AOG. Colorado Mills is at $23.00 AOG. Something else to consider is the oil premiums that crush plants pay on sunflowers. Sunflower is the only oilseed that pays premiums for oil content above 40%. Considering oil premiums that are offered at the crush plants on oil content above 40% at a rate of 2% price premium for each 1% of oil above 40%; this pushes a contract with 45% oil content gross return 10% higher per cwt. The AOG $22.00-$22.30 contract increases to a range of $24.20-$24.55, and the cash $22.50-$23.00 contract moves up to $24.75-$25.30.
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