- Global wheat prices followed a moderately firm trend during Q1 2026, supported by tightening supply expectations and weather-related risks across key producing regions.
- Elevated energy and fertilizer costs increased production expenses and influenced planting decisions, contributing to upward price pressure.
- Downstream demand remained stable, with pricing primarily driven by supply-side developments and trade flow adjustments.
Asia
In Asia, particularly India, the wheat outlook remained steady/soft in Q1 2026 due to ample domestic supplies and supportive policy measures. Stock-related pressures eased as inventories increased, indicating favourable supply conditions during the quarter and helping to relieve price pressures. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global wheat prices moved higher, rising by 4.3 percent in March, driven by tightening global supply conditions; however, this increase did not translate to the Asian market due to sufficient domestic availability. At the same time, weather-related risks, including hotter-than-normal conditions, remained elevated, keeping prices largely confined within a narrow trading range.
Europe
In Europe, wheat prices recorded a trend that was stable to firm, on the back of weather and export factors. The FAO noted that wheat prices were up 1.8% in February, owing to the risks of frost and winterkill for some regions in Europe. Nevertheless, positive crop performance in other areas, together with competitive export activities in the region, kept price gains in check amid logistical issues in the Black Sea export route.
North America
In North America, wheat prices trended firmly higher, thanks to adverse weather and tight supplies. In its report, FAO indicated that poor crop conditions in the US, as a result of the prevailing drought, had been supportive of the rise in global prices seen in March. Furthermore, drought conditions prevailed in almost 60% of US farmlands, which affected wheat output, hence the price support. Higher input costs and geopolitical tensions also contributed to higher grain prices, with US wheat among the grains benefiting from geopolitical turmoil in Iran.