Global rice prices continue to rise amid growing concerns about this year’s harvest, according to Bloomberg.
Thai white rice, considered the benchmark, rose to $446 per ton on Wednesday, according to the Thai Rice Exporters Association. This is the highest level in over a year—since February 2025.
Prices have been rising for the third consecutive week. This was driven by a forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicting a decline in global rice production in the 2026-2027 crop year for the first time in 11 years.
Surge in fertilizer and fuel costs have raised concerns that some farmers in Southeast Asia may decide not to plant crops this year. India, the world’s largest exporter of this crop, also faces the prospect of below-average monsoon rains, which could negatively impact yields.
Rice is a staple food in many Asian countries, so rising prices could accelerate inflation. Rice prices in recent years have remained well below the multi-year highs reached in 2024, the agency notes.
European apricot producers expect a partial recovery in the harvest in 2026 following a poor season in 2025, according to an industry forecast by Europech.
According to European industry estimates, apricot production in Europe in 2026 could reach about 505,000 tons, which is approximately 6% more than in 2025 and 4% higher than the 2020–2024 average. At the same time, market participants note that harvest potential remains uneven across countries and regions.
Weather was the key factor of the season. In 2026, there were no large-scale destructive frosts in Europe; however, the return of cold weather in late March and early April affected some orchards. Blooming was generally satisfactory, but frequent rains in some areas hampered fruit set. Therefore, northern regions may recover from the low volumes of 2025, while more subdued dynamics are expected in southern Europe.
For the market, this means an increase in supply, but not a complete elimination of risks. European exporters are already warning that the season could be challenging in terms of sales: as volumes increase, competition will intensify between Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and other producers. This could put pressure on prices, especially in the fresh apricot and processing raw material segments.
According to its annual report, the Astarta agricultural holding achieved a gross harvest of grain and oilseed crops of approximately 0.6 million tons in 2025, matching the previous year’s result.
“Climate instability, logistical constraints, and rising costs prompted the Company to increase acreage for crops with predictable sales and stable economics, such as corn and sunflower. However, unfavorable weather put significant pressure on crops, reducing productivity,” the company’s report noted.
The holding revised its crop rotation structure in response to climatic and logistical factors. Corn acreage more than doubled—to 12,000 hectares—resulting in a harvest of 94,000 tons of grain (+134% compared to 2024), while sunflower production increased by 32%—to 61,000 tons.
The soybean harvest decreased by 27%—to 122,000 tons (including the 2026 harvest), and the rapeseed harvest by 23%—to 31,000 tons due to weather anomalies. The sugar beet harvest amounted to 1.8 million tons, which is only 2% less than the previous year thanks to a 12.2% increase in yield, which almost completely offset the 13% reduction in acreage. Wheat production fell by 9% to 237,000 tons amid a reduction in acreage and a slight decline in productivity.
Yields for the holding’s main crops generally exceeded the national average. The yield for corn was 7.6 t/ha compared to 7.2 t/ha nationwide, and for wheat, 5.2 t/ha compared to 4.5 t/ha. A gap was also recorded for sunflowers—2.1 t/ha versus 1.9 t/ha—and rapeseed—2.8 t/ha versus 2.7 t/ha—while sugar beet yields stood at 55 t/ha.
In 2026, Astarta plans to expand its corn acreage by 66%, to 20,000 ha, and increase winter rapeseed acreage by 36%, to 15,000 ha, compared to last year. A reduction in acreage is expected for sunflowers by 20% to 23,000 ha, wheat by 15% to 39,000 ha, and sugar beets by 6% to 32,000 ha. The area under soybeans will remain stable at 56,000 hectares, which is 1.7 times less than the peak figure of 70,000 hectares in 2024.
“The condition of winter crops is generally satisfactory, as the insulating snow cover protects the plants from severe cold. Significant moisture reserves also create the potential for higher yields of spring crops,“ the agricultural holding noted.
”Astarta” is a vertically integrated agro-industrial holding operating in seven regions of Ukraine and is the country’s largest sugar producer. The company’s portfolio includes five sugar refineries, agricultural enterprises with a land bank of 214,000 hectares (including 129,000 hectares in Poltava, 42,000 hectares in Khmelnytskyi, and 16,000 hectares in Vinnytsia regions) and dairy farms with 30,000 head of cattle. The holding also operates a soybean processing plant and a bioenergy complex in Poltava Oblast, as well as a network of six grain elevators.
Astarta’s net profit for 2025 fell 4.2-fold to $19.94 million, while consolidated revenue decreased by 23% to $472 million. The agriholding’s EBITDA fell by 37% to $100 million, with a margin of 21%. The company’s net debt doubled over the past year and stood at $226 million at the end of the period.
According to Serbian Economist, FAS/USDA forecasts corn production in Serbia for the 2025/2026 marketing year (beginning in October 2025) at 7.1 million tons, with a harvested area of 950,000 hectares.
Corn exports in the 2025/26 marketing year are estimated at 2.5 million tons, domestic consumption at 4.25 million tons, and ending stocks at 827,000 tons. The report notes that demand for Serbian corn on FOB terms from Danube ports is being held back by strong competition from Ukraine and Russia.
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Sunflower oil exports from Ukraine in the 2025/2026 marketing year (MY) are projected at 4.1 million tons. This is 14% less than the previous season’s figure, the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC) reported on Facebook.
According to analysts, the main reason for the decline was a reduction in raw material volumes. Specifically, in the current season, the total area planted with sunflowers was 5.2 million hectares, which is 2.6% less than in the previous MY. Difficult weather conditions, particularly a lack of rainfall, led to a decrease in yield to 2.0 t/ha.
“As a result, the seed harvest is expected to reach 10.1 million tons. This is 10.6% less than in the previous marketing year and 13.5% below the average for the last five years,” experts predict.
Due to the smaller harvest, UCAB estimates processing volumes at 10.1 million tons, meaning oil production will drop by 13.1% to 4.3 million tons. Meanwhile, the domestic market will consume only about 240,000 tons of the product.
“Domestic consumption in Ukraine continues to decline due to the partial occupation of territories, forced population migration, and military operations. Therefore, the vast majority of the product will be exported,” explained UCAB, noting that in 2025, sunflower oil alone generated the highest foreign exchange revenue among the entire agricultural sector.
The association expressed confidence that despite the negative production trends, Ukrainian sunflower oil retains its position as a key export commodity in the EU, Middle East, and Asian markets.
The gross grain harvest in Ukraine in the 2026-2027 marketing year (MY, July-June) is forecast at 58.7 million tons, which is 4% lower than the current season’s figures, according to the information and analytical agency APK-Inform.
According to analysts’ March estimates, the wheat harvest is expected to reach almost 20 million tons, which is 14% less than in the current season. Barley harvest may amount to 5.1 million tons (-5%), while corn production is forecast at 31.8 million tons, which is 3% higher than last year.
“This forecast is based on the reduction in the area sown with winter crops due to the drought in the fall and unfavorable weather conditions in February this year, which may lead to the partial destruction of winter crops in some regions, as well as a possible slight increase in the area sown with corn due to the replanting of winter crops amid high demand for this grain,” the agency explains.
At the same time, despite the expected decline in gross harvest, experts estimated the export potential of grains in 2026/27 MY at 42 million tons, which is 4% more than in 2025/26 MY. The growth in supplies to foreign markets will be facilitated by high carryover stocks from the current season, which may amount to 11.4 million tons, APK-Inform concluded.
