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Commodity watch · updated Nov 13, 7:44 AM EST

United Kingdom: commodities

For every crop USDA forecasts and every country that matters for it: USDA's crop outlook, the weather forecast over the main growing regions at the crop's stage, trade, prices and hedge funds' bets, and how much our sources are saying about it. A plain score from 0 to 100 says how much the supply looks at risk, and when the risk is real but the news is quiet, the watch raises a flag. Now: 800 cards for 62 commodities, 5 flagged.

Skim milk powder

10· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 100,000 t in 2026, up 11.1% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 95,000 t, 4% of the world's; imports 20,000 t, 1% of the world's
Why 10
  • +10 USDA expects a crop 11% bigger than last year's: room for a cut

Rapeseed (canola)

10· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 1.1 million t in 2026/27, up 23.2% on last year, 1% of the world's
TradeExports 40,000 t; imports 850,000 t, 4% of the world's
MarketRapeseed oil $1,405/mt in October, down 2.6% on the month, up 11.2% on the year, the lowest since April 2026
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
Why 10
  • +10 USDA expects a crop 23% bigger than last year's: room for a cut

Oats

5· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 900,000 t in 2026/27, up 5.9% on last year, 4% of the world's
TradeExports 60,000 t, 2% of the world's; imports 15,000 t
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
Why 5
  • +5 USDA expects a crop 6% bigger than last year's

Rapeseed oil

5· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 742,000 t in 2026/27, up 5.8% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 65,000 t; imports 180,000 t, 2% of the world's
MarketRapeseed oil $1,405/mt in October, down 2.6% on the month, up 11.2% on the year, the lowest since April 2026
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
Why 5
  • +5 USDA expects a crop 6% bigger than last year's

Rapeseed meal

5· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 1 million t in 2026/27, up 5.9% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 100,000 t; imports 550,000 t, 5% of the world's
Why 5
  • +5 USDA expects a crop 6% bigger than last year's

Butter

5· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 210,000 t in 2026, up 5.5% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 55,000 t, 4% of the world's; imports 53,000 t, 8% of the world's
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
Why 5
  • +5 USDA expects a crop 6% bigger than last year's

Barley

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 6.1 million t in 2026/27, down 6.2% on last year, 4% of the world's
WeatherNo weather risk in the next 10 days in the main growing regions
TradeExports 500,000 t, 2% of the world's; imports 200,000 t
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days

Mixed grain

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 225,000 t in 2026/27, down 6.2% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeNo exports or imports to speak of

Chicken

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 1.9 million t in 2027, up 1% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 235,000 t, 2% of the world's; imports 1.1 million t, 9% of the world's
MarketChicken $1.84/kg in October, up 1.7% on the month, up 7% on the year, the highest since May 2026
News7 reports in our sources in the last 14 days

Wheat

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 12 million t in 2026/27, up 0.4% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 500,000 t; imports 3.6 million t, 2% of the world's; bought 0 t of US wheat in the week to Oct 29; 9,662 t shipped this marketing year (9,681 t a year earlier)
MarketUS HRW wheat $317/mt in October, down 8.6% on the month, up 37.3% on the year, the lowest since July 2026; hedge funds betting on lower prices (87,126 contracts net)
News4 reports in our sources in the last 14 days

Beef

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 880,000 t in 2027, down 1.7% on last year, 2% of the world's
TradeExports 165,000 t, 1% of the world's; imports 400,000 t, 3% of the world's; cancelled 5 t of US beef in the week to Oct 29; 1,962 t shipped this marketing year (1,813 t a year earlier)
MarketBeef $6.83/kg in October, down 0.4% on the month, down 3.7% on the year, the lowest since July 2025; hedge funds betting on higher prices (49,691 contracts net)
News6 reports in our sources in the last 14 days

Cattle herds

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 2.9 million head in 2027, down 1% on last year, 1% of the world's
TradeImports 20,000 head, 1% of the world's
MarketBeef $6.83/kg in October, down 0.4% on the month, down 3.7% on the year, the lowest since July 2025; hedge funds betting on higher prices (49,691 contracts net)

Pork

0· no cut expected
CropUSDA: 1 million t in 2027, up 0.5% on last year
TradeExports 235,000 t, 2% of the world's; imports 700,000 t, 8% of the world's; cancelled 1 t of US pork in the week to Oct 29; 966 t shipped this marketing year (1,017 t a year earlier)
MarketHedge funds betting on lower prices (59,072 contracts net, their biggest bet in a year)
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
CropUSDA expects no orange juice crop to speak of in 2025/26
TradeExports 5,000 t; imports 115,000 t, 11% of the world's
MarketOrange $0.75/kg in October, down 5.1% on the month, down 28.6% on the year, the lowest since February 2022
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
CropUSDA expects no tangerines and mandarins crop to speak of in 2025/26
TradeExports 1,000 t; imports 330,000 t, 8% of the world's
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
CropUSDA expects no pears crop to speak of in 2025/26
TradeImports 100,000 t, 5% of the world's
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
CropUSDA expects no table grapes crop to speak of in 2025/26
TradeImports 290,000 t, 7% of the world's
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days
CropUSDA expects no peaches and nectarines crop to speak of in 2026/27
TradeImports 75,000 t, 7% of the world's
NewsNo reports in our sources in the last 14 days

Bought from the US

USDA's weekly export sales, the week to October 29, 2026: new sales less cancellations, and this marketing year's shipments.

CommodityThis weekShipped this year
corn22,686 t92,961 ta year earlier 82,393
soybean meal11,790 t60,087 ta year earlier 23,621
rice60 t10,600 ta year earlier 8,237
wheat0 t9,662 ta year earlier 9,681
sorghum0 t0 ta year earlier 22
soybeans0 t0 ta year earlier 67,126
pork-1 t966 ta year earlier 1,017
beef-5 t1,962 ta year earlier 1,813

Who buys its commodities

Its biggest commodity exports (farm, energy, metals) in 2024 and their main buyers, by value (CEPII BACI, January 2026 release, from UN trade statistics; Etalab Open Licence 2.0).

  • Crude oil $17 billionNetherlands 31%, Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 12%, Poland 10%, United States 9%
  • Gold $15 billionSwitzerland 26%, United Arab Emirates 19%, Azerbaijan 13%, China, Hong Kong SAR 12%
  • Natural gas $4.8 billionBelgium-Luxembourg (...1998) 38%, Ireland 35%, Netherlands 23%, Brazil 3.4%
  • Silver $3.4 billionIndia 69%, United Arab Emirates 14%, United States 7.8%, Canada 2.9%
  • Platinum $2.4 billionUnited States 24%, North Macedonia 20%, China 14%, China, Hong Kong SAR 12%
  • Cheese $914 millionFrance 17%, United States 10%, Ireland 9%, Netherlands 8.8%
  • Nickel $775 millionBelgium-Luxembourg (...1998) 15%, China 11%, United States 8.8%, Japan 8.7%
  • Aluminium $711 millionFed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 63%, Switzerland 8.9%, Greece 7.3%, France 4%
  • Beef $540 millionFrance 38%, Ireland 17%, Netherlands 17%, Canada 4.4%
  • Lead $476 millionFed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 19%, Italy 12%, France 12%, Finland 7.2%

Where its commodities come from

Its biggest commodity imports in 2024 and where they come from, by value.

  • Gold $83 billionCanada 42%, South Africa 7.7%, Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 6.8%, Australia 6.8%
  • Crude oil $31 billionNorway 38%, United States 34%, Libya 8.7%, Nigeria 4.2%
  • Natural gas $17 billionNorway 76%, United States 17%, Trinidad and Tobago 1.8%, Algeria 1.2%
  • Silver $4.2 billionChina 36%, Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 20%, Poland 11%, Switzerland 10%
  • Cheese $2.6 billionIreland 17%, Italy 16%, France 13%, Denmark 10%
  • Platinum $2.5 billionSouth Africa 44%, China, Hong Kong SAR 14%, Italy 7%, China 6.2%
  • Chicken $1.8 billionPoland 39%, Netherlands 34%, Belgium-Luxembourg (...1998) 5.3%, Ukraine 4%
  • Beef $1.8 billionIreland 76%, Poland 6.5%, Brazil 3.2%, Australia 3.2%
  • Coffee $1.4 billionBrazil 18%, Switzerland 15%, Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 12%, Italy 9.3%
  • Pork $1.2 billionDenmark 23%, Fed. Rep. of Germany (...1990) 22%, Spain 14%, Belgium-Luxembourg (...1998) 13%

United Kingdom's country page

Prices, October 2026

The World Bank's monthly averages in US dollars (the Pink Sheet, updated November 3), against the month before and a year before. Licensed CC BY 4.0.

CommodityPriceMonthYear
Energy
Crude oil, average108.5 $/bbl+6.1%+72.2%
Crude oil, Brent125 $/bbl+7%+93.2%
Crude oil, Dubai102.7 $/bbl+10.1%+59.7%
Crude oil, WTI97.7 $/bbl+0.8%+62.3%
Coal, Australian152.3 $/mt+3.5%+41.7%
Coal, South African100 $/mt+1.8%+9.2%
Natural gas, US2.96 $/mmbtu+0.3%−7.5%
Natural gas, Europe28.5 $/mmbtu+12.1%+161.7%
Liquefied natural gas, Japan16.59 $/mmbtu+2%+49.5%
Natural gas index182.7 2010=100+8.9%+86.2%
Beverages
Cocoa5.75 $/kg−2.9%−3.4%
Coffee, Arabica7.4 $/kg+1.9%−16.9%
Coffee, Robusta3.63 $/kg−1.6%−23.4%
Tea, avg 3 auctions2.88 $/kg+0.7%−4.3%
Tea, Colombo3.75 $/kg+0.5%−4.8%
Tea, Kolkata2.55 $/kg+0.8%−10.8%
Tea, Mombasa2.33 $/kg+1.3%+4.5%
Food
Coconut oil2,029 $/mt−2.4%−20.3%
Groundnuts1,600 $/mt+2.4%+33.3%
Fish meal2,840 $/mt−2.6%+60.5%
Groundnut oil1,850 $/mt−0.5%+13.6%
Palm oil1,120 $/mt−5.1%+7.9%
Palm kernel oil2,287 $/mt−2.9%+0.6%
Soybeans515 $/mt−1.7%+27.5%
Soybean oil1,546 $/mt−4.3%+36.6%
Soybean meal453 $/mt+1.3%+27.2%
Rapeseed oil1,405 $/mt−2.6%+11.2%
Sunflower oil1,413 $/mt+1.4%+3.7%
Barley80.4 $/mtAugust 2020——
Maize226.5 $/mt−5.5%+14.3%
Sorghum189.5 $/mtAugust 2020——
Rice, Thai 5%489 $/mt+1.5%+37.4%
Rice, Thai 25%472 $/mt+2.4%+34.5%
Rice, Thai A.1467.4 $/mt−1.2%+39.1%
Rice, Viet Namese 5%413.9 $/mt−1.1%+13.2%
Wheat, US SRW260.3 $/mt−6.6%+24.4%
Wheat, US HRW317 $/mt−8.6%+37.3%
Banana, Europe1.1 $/kg−1.8%−2.7%
Banana, US1.18 $/kg+5.4%+4.4%
Orange0.75 $/kg−5.1%−28.6%
Beef6.83 $/kg−0.4%−3.7%
Chicken1.84 $/kg+1.7%+7%
Lamb7.48 $/kg+3%+18.2%
Shrimps, Mexican8.6 $/kgOctober 2023——
Sugar, EU0.37 $/kg−2.6%−2.6%
Sugar, US0.92 $/kg+8.2%+19.5%
Sugar, world0.43 $/kg+4.9%+26.5%
Raw materials
Tobacco, US import u.v.6,775 $/mtJuly 2026——
Logs, Cameroon392.1 $/cubic meter−2.7%−3.7%
Logs, Malaysian188.5 $/cubic meter−0.9%−4.1%
Sawnwood, Cameroon636.8 $/cubic meter−0.9%−0.5%
Sawnwood, Malaysian724.3 $/cubic meter−1%−0.5%
Plywood345.8 cents/sheet−0.9%−4.1%
Cotton, A Index2 $/kg−4.8%+19%
Rubber, TSR202.55 $/kg+5.8%+49.1%
Rubber, RSS32.83 $/kg+2.9%+41.5%
Fertilizers
Phosphate rock170 $/mt0%+11.5%
DAP803.1 $/mt+0.3%+6.5%
TSP692 $/mt+0.3%+5.1%
Urea420 $/mt+3.1%+6.5%
Potassium chloride357.5 $/mt−2.7%+1.6%
Metals and minerals
Aluminum3,061 $/mt−6.8%+9.6%
Iron ore, cfr spot90.8 $/dmtu−7.1%−12.3%
Copper14,508 $/mt+0.2%+35.1%
Lead1,860 $/mt−0.7%−5.5%
Tin51,696 $/mt−3.8%+43.6%
Nickel15,436 $/mt−5.4%+2.3%
Zinc3,818 $/mt−5%+21.1%
Precious metals
Gold4,105 $/troy oz−5%+1.2%
Platinum1,621 $/troy oz−9.1%+0.3%
Silver57 $/troy oz−11.8%+15.4%

The record

Each card's score calls USDA's next revision of the country's crop: 50 or more “cut likely”, 30 to 49 “cut possible”, under 30 “no cut expected”. When USDA revises (grains, oilseeds and cotton every month, about the 10th; coffee and sugar twice a year), the last call before it is checked against what USDA did.

CallCallsUSDA cutRaisedUnchanged
no cut expected4033032341
cut possible1010

Sources

Crop figures: USDA FAS (PSD, Weekly Export Sales). Prices: World Bank Commodity Price Data (The Pink Sheet), CC BY 4.0. Hedge funds: CFTC Commitments of Traders. Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), normals from NASA POWER. Trade partners: CEPII BACI (Etalab Open Licence 2.0). Crop calendars after USDA FAS's; growing regions are the main ones of each main producer.

The same readings as data, free: GET /api/v1/commodities (and /map, /country/{code}, /prices, /weather, /scorecard).