The week through Friday, 4 September brought two rising quotes and one falling quote across the monitored weekly and futures benchmarks: white sugar and Brent rose, while cocoa beans fell. The ECB exchange rate was EUR 1 = USD 1.1622. The monthly, quarterly and annual indices below are not recalculated into WoW changes, because that would mix different bases and dates.
Key market moves this week
Sugar: +2.1%, keep the fixing period short. ICE London White Sugar #5, front-month, closed on 4 September at USD 525.40/t, which is approximately EUR 452/t at the ECB exchange rate. Secondary source MarketWatch reports the same settlement. The latest public monthly average in the EU sugar dashboard that we use here is EUR 501/t for June 2026. Futures and the EU physical-market average are two different levels, so for a Q4 tender ask for the validity of the offer, packaging, origin and delivery.
Cocoa beans, futures: -6.9%, offer a short validity window. Trading Economics reports cocoa bean futures at USD 6,173.87/t as of 4 September, approximately EUR 5,313/t. This is a cocoa bean benchmark, not a cocoa powder benchmark. For chocolate manufacturers, first confirm 10-12%, alkalisation, origin and monthly volume, and only then send a price with short validity.
Cocoa powder 10-12%: monthly level, no WoW. Procurement Resource reports a UK FOB level of USD 7,430.06/t for July 2026, approximately EUR 6,395/t. Therefore, do not compare powder with cocoa bean futures and do not state a weekly percentage for it. For purchasing, prepare the offer according to powder type, fat content, origin, packaging and delivery location.
RBDW sunflower oil: +2.6% m/m, request delivered offers. TESEO/EK reports the national average for refined sunflower oil in Bulgaria at EUR 1,440/t for August 2026 and a month-on-month increase of 2.6%. This is an EU wholesale level. CIF Rotterdam is a different basis, so in every offer state whether it is EU wholesale, CIF Rotterdam, FCA or DAP and add transport to the specific city.
Brent crude: +7.8%, recalculate logistics. Reuters reports Friday’s Brent settlement at USD 96.28/barrel. At the ECB exchange rate, this is approximately EUR 82.83/barrel. A higher fuel input does not automatically mean fixing transport, but it is a reason to refresh delivered calculations for oils, cocoa and Asian starches according to route and delivery window.
Potato starch: quarterly index, EUR 851/t, no WoW. ChemAnalyst reports Germany FOB Hamburg at USD 989/t in the quarterly index, which is approximately EUR 851/t. When ordering, verify grade, batch, expiry, FCA or DAP and timing. Do not present a quarterly index as a weekly decline or increase.
Potato flakes: annual proxy EUR 1,207/t, no WoW. GTAIC reports the German LTM import proxy at USD 1,403.26/t, approximately EUR 1,207/t, with a year-on-year change of -0.68%. This figure is not a weekly spot price. For an offer, request batch, expiry, origin and the actual delivery cost.
What this means for you by segment
Bakeries and confectioneries: London #5 sugar is approximately EUR 452/t futures equivalent, while the latest public monthly EU average is EUR 501/t. Therefore, for sugar do not send a long fixing period without confirmed physical delivery. Handle T550 flour and starches according to specification, volume and delivery date.
Chocolate manufacturers: Cocoa bean futures are approximately EUR 5,313/t and fell by 6.9%, but 10-12% powder is a separate monthly benchmark at approximately EUR 6,395/t. In one message, separate the futures signal from the powder offer.
Dairies: Potato starch is a quarterly index at approximately EUR 851/t with no WoW. For puddings, creams and ice cream, plan stock according to the production calendar and verify quality, not just the headline price.
Fitness and muesli: Maltodextrin is a monthly EU benchmark, so do not state a weekly percentage for it. Request DE, origin, certification and monthly consumption in one message.
Gastro and oils: Sunflower oil is at EUR 1,440/t in the monthly Bulgarian EU wholesale average, +2.6% m/m. Do not compare it directly with CIF Rotterdam without stating the basis and transport.
Logistics: Brent at USD 96.28/barrel increases the need to recalculate delivered prices. For every offer, state the route, Incoterms, date and validity.
Practical impact for buyers
- By Friday, request two comparable offers for white sugar and refined sunflower oil with the same Incoterm, volume, packaging and delivery date.
- For cocoa beans, work with short validity. For cocoa powder, request a 10-12% specification and a monthly level, not WoW.
- For potato starch and flakes, request batch, expiry and logistics. Do not use an index or annual proxy as a false weekly change.
- If the buyer is sourcing several commodities, send one combined message with one CTA. It saves time and reduces the risk of confusing a futures contract with a physical basis.
Why Rootie works this week
This week, Rootie reports 3 closed contracts, 180 t of aggregated volume and an average saving of 8% versus the spot price.
Need help timing your purchase?
Write to us and provide the commodity, specification, volume and delivery city. Rootie will compare the correct benchmark with the physical offer and send you the next step. Registration and enquiry at rootie.eu.
Sources: ECB EUR/US, WSJ ICE London, EU Sugar, Trading Economics Cocoa, Procurement Resource Cocoa Powder, ChemAnalyst, TESEO/EK Oilseeds, GTAIC Potato Flakes, Reuters Brent.