The European Commission shows an average white sugar price of €500/t, while the spot market in Central Europe is roughly €90 to €100/t higher. While oil is easing slightly and sunflower seed is becoming cheaper, transport remains expensive and the physical market for sugar, starches and gluten is not loosening. For buyers, it is therefore crucial to distinguish between an exchange reference, a contracted price and the real spot market.
Two prices for the same sugar
The European Commission published the average selling price of white sugar reported by sugar producers for August 2026: €500/t for the EU, with regions at €495 to €550/t. The spot market in Central Europe tells a different story: granulated ICUMSA 45 sugar in Vyškov was €585 to €595/t FCA on 23 October, €670/t in Berlin, and Ukrainian-origin sugar in Vyškov around €520/t.
The €90 to €100/t difference between contract and spot is paid by those who do not have volumes contracted. The exchange is currently moving in the opposite direction: London white sugar closed on 23 October at USD 534.80/t (€478/t), down 3.6% week on week, while raw sugar in New York is holding at 20.24 cents/lb and is up 8.8% over the month.
A 2027 annual contract below €600/t is currently the cheapest sugar available in the region; waiting for the exchange to pull spot prices down is not working so far.
Oil is easing, transport is not yet
Brent fell to USD 114.45/bbl (€102/bbl) on Monday morning, 1.9% below Friday’s close, but still 17% higher than a month ago. The market is waiting to see whether Washington opts for a deal with Iran or a resumption of strikes.
Carriers pass diesel costs into rates with a two- to three-week delay, so truck transport will remain more expensive in November even if oil is falling. Delivered offers should be taken with short validity, and transport over 500 km should be recalculated for every order.
Sunflower: seed is falling, oil is holding
Black sunflower seed FCA Odesa fell 4.9% week on week to €390/t. Crude sunflower oil CPT Odesa is holding at €1,032/t (-1.2%), at €1,225/t in Italy and €1,440/t in Bulgaria according to the Commission.
Ukraine’s harvest is a quarter larger than last year, while oil prices are being supported by damaged terminals and Black Sea risk. Buyers of refined sunflower oil for winter therefore have a reason to wait two to three weeks for cheaper seed to feed through into oil prices.
Rapeseed, on the other hand, rose 3.6% over the week to €511.75/t (MATIF Nov-26), while rapeseed oil in Poland is at €1,244/t.
Grains and starches remain unchanged
December wheat on MATIF is holding at €234.00/t, food wheat in Prague at €212.90/t and in Bratislava at €203.02/t ex-farm.
Native potato starch in Poland has been at €0.625/kg FCA for the third month, flakes at €2,720/t EXW and gluten at €1,800/t EXW. Caraway fell to €2,100/t FCA Dordrecht, while London cocoa is holding at GBP 4,193/t (€5,008/t).
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Sources: European Commission (agrifood data) • ICE London / Investing.com • Trading Economics • Euronext / AHDB • Commodity Board • cenyrolnicze.pl • Foodcom • IMARC • ECB.