Europe: The European market showed modest strength in August with shipments totaling just over 43 million pounds, which is 12% above last year. European buyers are keeping a disciplined pace, stepping in only when needed, continuing a hand-to-mouth approach. The recent suspension of EU tariff measures provides some comfort for forward cover, but it has not created urgency. Sellers are releasing volume selectively, preserving the ability to capture better values once harvest clarity improves. Middle East: The Middle East has been very active to open the 2025 crop year. Shipments reached more than 17 million pounds in August, up almost 68% versus the prior year. The earlier Ramadan in 2026 is already shaping buying behavior, with importers advancing coverage well before the November shipment cutoff. Despite the activity, many have remained sidelined awaiting the August shipment report hoping to gain more clarity on the incoming crop, so activity levels are expected to remain high post release. After the region’s strong performance in crop year 2024, it will be worth monitoring to see if it is repeatable. Domestic: August shipments totaled 48.45 million pounds, down 21.9% from the same period last year. This was the tenth straight month of negative year-over-year shipments. We continue to see sharp declines year over year, despite the July results, which painted a more optimistic picture. New sales for the month were 55 million, a decline of 7.11% year over year. Strong domestic sales for the month were a bright spot, however there is ample demand still to be covered. Given last year’s performance, demand in the domestic market will continue to be monitored closely for signs of further declines.
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SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2025
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