Germany news — Vesper

Cheese prices rise in Europe, fall everywhere else

European cheese offers are moving up on tighter milk, while US and New Zealand Cheddar keeps falling. The widening spread is a problem for EU exports.

India's duty-free sugar imports lose their appeal

India approved 1 MMT of duty-free raw sugar imports, but mills may take only half of it. EU output is set to fall almost 20% as drought hits beet yields.

UCO climbs 19% while Hormuz traffic sits near zero

UCO firmed 18.7% and the biodiesel complex followed, while Hormuz transits fell to zero and German HVO demand more than quadrupled year on year.

Butter surplus grows while dairy protein markets tighten

Butter is piling up across Europe, the US and New Zealand while SMP tightens on strong demand, pulling dairy markets in two very different directions.

Q4 whey negotiations stall in a pricing standoff

Whey protein markets are stuck in a Q4 standoff between buyers and sellers, while milk protein concentrate is sold out and climbing on reformulation demand.

Trucking costs ease in the Netherlands while ocean and river capacity stay tight

The Netherlands is cutting its truck toll 22% through year-end, but ocean capacity, a fragile Rhine recovery and tighter Panama Canal limits keep freight tight.

Europe's beet crop drought pushes buyers toward imports

Drought has left Europe's beet crop unrecoverable in places, and Vesper estimates the EU and UK may need 3.4 million tonnes of sugar imports this season.

Europe's egg prices turn higher while the US market cools

European egg prices are rising into autumn restocking while US wholesale prices fall as supply rebuilds, with Polish disease losses tightening Europe's flock.

Typhoon Dolphin's backlog outlasts the storm

Typhoon Dolphin has cleared the Zhejiang coast, but Ningbo and Shanghai backlogs, a record-low Rhine and new EU packaging rules keep shippers under pressure.

China's ports reopen. The shipping backlog does not.

Typhoon Dolphin has passed, but the container backlog at Ningbo-Zhoushan and Shanghai lands on an already tight August for shippers.

Europe's sugar beet crop has run out of time to recover

Drought has pushed EU beet yields in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK past recovery, weeks before harvest starts.

Egg markets diverge: Europe steadies while the US rally unwinds

Europe's egg market has stopped falling while the US posts its first broad weekly decline of its rally, and egg powder is now pricing off a different cycle.

EU sets an audit timeline for Brazil's poultry ban, opens a duck dispute with China

The EU has attached a firm audit calendar to Brazil's poultry suspension and opened a new anti-dumping case against Chinese duck imports.

Butter and milk powder markets test their stock cushion

Heavy production has left butter, SMP, and WMP stocks well supplied, and the second half of the year will show how much of that cushion gets drawn down.

India freight congestion deepens: blank sailings become the new normal

Container shortages and blanked sailings at Nhava Sheva and Mundra are delaying exports and pushing peak season surcharges sharply higher on the Europe route.

Cocoa grindings rise nearly 10%, but prices swing both ways

Global cocoa grindings rose 9.95% year on year, confirming demand is holding, but London and New York futures still fell nearly 9% on the data.

Heat stress builds for EU sugar beet as growers lock in low prices

A prolonged heatwave is stressing EU sugar beet just as growers lock in disappointing new-crop prices, raising the risk of factory closures in 2027.

Reefer space, monsoon ports and a low Rhine: this week's freight pressure points

Shypple flags three freight pressure points for food shippers: sold-out reefer space, monsoon and typhoon port delays, and a Rhine too low for full barges.

European sugar: buyers and sellers dig in on new-crop prices

The market for 2026/27 European sugar has settled into a standoff. Buyers are holding around the €530 mark depending on volume, while sellers are trying to...

Record May temperatures lift European grain futures as US crop weather eases CBOT

European and US grain markets moved in opposite directions this week. Euronext milling wheat climbed to EUR 214/mt from EUR 213/mt at the previous report,...

Südzucker's sugar division posts €177 million loss as S&P turns negative

Südzucker confirmed that its sugar division recorded an operating loss of €177 million in 2025/26, compared to a €13 million loss the year before, as...

Germany's RED III adoption and higher energy prices lift European biodiesel sharply

European biodiesel markets moved substantially higher in May. FAME 0 rose from $1,382 to $1,500 per tonne compared to the same period last month. UCOME...

Vegetable oils track Brent higher as El Nino and Hormuz tensions set the agenda

Brent crude rose from $104 to $112 per barrel over the week, and vegetable oil markets moved with it. The trigger was fresh US threats to resume attacks on...

European eggs cool while the US flips from scarcity to surplus

The European egg market is starting to ease from its post-Easter highs, but the correction is uneven. Caged and standard eggs are softening as Eastern...

Rapeseed market firms after Germany adopts RED III

European rapeseed prices climbed this week, supported by Germany's adoption of Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) alongside tight EU stocks, strong...

Whey protein prices hold at all-time highs with demand destruction still elusive

Whey protein prices remain at all-time highs across Europe and the United States, with WPC80 and WPI trading above levels where reformulation is already...

Soy and palm oils lead vegetable oil gains on biofuel policy and crude rebound

Soybean oil and palm oil led gains across the vegetable oil complex last week, supported by a rebound in Brent crude and further reinforcement of biofuel...

Southeast Asia biodiesel mandates reshape palm oil supply outlook

Three major Southeast Asian palm oil producers are stepping up biodiesel blending mandates in moves that will reshape the feedstock picture for global...

US egg prices fall below production cost while Europe stays tight

The post-Easter global egg market is moving in two opposite directions. US market in oversupply In the United States, supply has rebuilt strongly after last ...

Cheese markets flip from Q1 shortage to Q2 surplus

From shortage to slight surplus Q1 was defined by limited commodity cheese availability as export demand kept volumes moving out of both Europe and the...

Sugar retreats from March highs on easing geopolitical risk

Global prices pull back The Sugar No. 11 raw price stood at $13.88/lb and No. 5 white at $424/mt as of April 14. The reversal reflects bearish underlying...

Vegetable oil prices ease on ceasefire news, palm oil outlook mixed

A two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, announced on April 8, triggered a sharp decline in Brent crude oil, sending immediate...

Variable spring weather disrupts EU sugar beet drilling, area down 7% year on year

Conditions for beet drilling have been uneven across northern Europe this spring, adding uncertainty to the EU sugar supply outlook heading into the 2026/27 ...

European egg market enters Easter under supply pressure

Europe's egg market is heading into Easter with demand firm, supply limited, and retail prices holding at elevated levels. A combination of disease...

EU sugar beet farmers face higher costs as energy prices climb

European sugar beet growers are heading into the 2026 planting season with a more challenging cost environment, as diesel and gas prices rise in the wake of ...

European egg shortage deepens ahead of Easter as disease outbreaks hit supply

Europe's egg market is under severe pressure with Easter just 15 days away. A combination of HPAI and Newcastle Disease outbreaks across key producing...

Potato starch market outlook 2026: record 2025 harvest drives prices to lowest point since 2024

The main factor behind falling potato starch prices has been the very favourable 2025 crop, which delivered a much larger harvest in the main production...

Walnut market forecast 2026: abundant California supply offers buyers a favourable window

California walnuts are entering Q2 in an unusual position: abundant supply, improving shipment momentum, and prices trading below production costs for many...

Weather anomalies raise risks across key sugar regions

Unusual weather patterns across Europe, Brazil, India and China raise production risks for sugarbeet and sugarcane as temperature and...

Dairy markets firm on scarce offers and strong export demand

A shortage of offers is pushing butter and SMP prices higher across Europe, the US, and Oceania. Here's what's driving the moves and what...

EU sugar production projected to fall 10% as consumption uncertainty clouds market outlook

EU sugar production projected to decline to 15.4 million tonnes in 2026/27 from 17.05 million tonnes. Import needs unclear as November...

Europe faces Easter egg shortage as Poland loses 5 million laying hens

Poland has lost 5 million laying hens in six weeks, creating severe Easter egg shortages across Europe. Germany faces daily shortages of...

Polish chicken prices fall as Avian Influenza outbreak triggers 2.79 million bird cull

Poland reports 22 Avian Influenza outbreaks with 2.79 million birds culled, driving Polish chicken prices down 3.7% while French prices...

Container shipping rates drop ahead of Chinese New Year as demand falls short

Spot rates dropped double-digits on Asia-Europe and Asia-America routes in late January as Chinese New Year demand surge failed...

European sugar producers face mounting losses as Süedzucker reports €136 million deficit

European sugar producers face mounting losses with Süedzucker posting a €136M deficit and Nordzucker losing €56M as depressed prices...

EU egg market faces structural supply pressure as avian influenza culls and trade restrictions tighten availability

Empty shelves across Austria, Germany and France signal structural supply tightness in EU egg markets. HPAI culls, slow restocking

Cocoa prices hit 2-year low as farmgate pricing crisis leaves African beans stranded at ports

London cocoa futures dropped 12% to 3,347 GBP/t as fixed farmgate prices in Ivory Coast and Ghana create supply bottlenecks. European...

Egg markets face dual pressure from avian flu outbreaks and rising energy costs

Germany reports 25 farm cases, France 33 infections, Netherlands culls 62,000 hens as Arctic weather increases heating demand with sharp...

Global milk production overwhelms demand, timing mismatches amplify market pain

US cheese prices hit 2025 lows while butter spread to retail exceeds $2.77/lb as strong milk production from US, Europe, and NZ...

European butter surplus climbs to 106,000 metric tons

European butter production surged 5.09% in 2025, creating a 106,000 MT surplus. With cream cheap at €5,500/MT and buyers already covered...

Shipping rates from Asia to Europe climb 3-4% on major routes

Shipping rates from Asia to Europe increased 3-4% on major routes as carriers manage capacity and 2026 contract negotiations begin.

Rapeseed oil prices hold firm on tight supply and biodiesel policy expectations

Rapeseed oil prices reach EUR 1,085/mt as EU imports decline sharply and the market awaits German biodiesel policy decisions that could...

Germany and Netherlands eye policy shifts that could reshape European biodiesel demand

Germany and the Netherlands are evaluating policy changes that would end double counting for advanced biofuels, potentially reshaping...

Chocolate makers adjust recipes as cocoa costs remain elevated

High cocoa prices drive chocolate recipe changes as companies use rice, oats, and sunflower seeds. McVitie's and KitKat brands lose...

Raw sugar prices hit four-year lows on surplus concerns

Raw sugar futures drop to 14.37 cents per pound, the lowest since April 2021. Brazilian production forecasts and Indian export potential...

Germany considers ending UCOME double-counting by January 2026

Germany plans to eliminate advanced biofuel double-counting by January 2026 under RED III implementation, potentially reshaping UCOME...

European sugar prices decline over 20% since May

European sugar prices have fallen over 20% since May to €475/tonne as exceptional harvest yields and evolving market dynamics reshape pricing

European sugar prices trade below import parity while 2026 acreage faces potential cuts

European sugar prices trade below €586/tonne import parity as early data shows 3% acreage reduction expected for 2026.

Dry European weather and China frost risk test global grain outlook

European grain regions face dry conditions while China's corn belt braces for frost. Latest global crop production analysis shows stable...

European sugar prices fall below import parity amid 2025 harvest season

European white sugar prices for 2026 delivery have fallen below import parity as harvest progresses. Analysis of pricing dynamics...

Polish sugar beet growers earn €52.55 per tonne, highest in Europe with EU subsidy support

Polish sugar beet farmers receive €52.55/tonne, Europe's highest compensation with EU subsidy support. Analysis of competitive impacts on...

Raw sugar futures recover as Brazilian mills eye ethanol production shift

Raw sugar futures bounced back to $16.1/lb as Brazilian mills signal potential pivot to ethanol production. European yields exceed forecasts..

European whey protein concentrate hits price ceiling as production declines persist

WPC80 prices stabilize at €12,150/mt in Europe while US markets climb higher. Production down 10%+ across regions as processors...

Raw sugar futures break below 16 cents as Brazilian mills weigh ethanol shift

Sugar futures drop to 15.9 cents amid supply pressures and negative positioning, while Brazilian mills weigh shifting to more profitable...

Brazil lifts sugar production to five-year high while Europe faces oversupply

Brazil’s Center–South mills pushed sugar output to the highest early-August level in five years, with 55% of cane directed to sugar.

Dairy fat prices correct lower as milk production increases globally

Global dairy fat prices face downward pressure from record milk production while whey protein markets enter tight Q4 purchasing window.

Sugar prices drop to 16 cents as Brazil's Center-South production picks up pace

Sugar prices decline to near 16 cents/lb driven by Brazil's Center-South production increase and potential Indian export expansion.

Biodiesel prices edge higher as feedstock costs rise amid tariff deadline pressure

FAME0 gains $6/mt to $1,322/mt while UCO prices surge. HVO softens as August tariff deadlines approach. LSGO drops $84/mt on trade war fears.

Biodiesel prices rebound after sharp decline on Middle East ceasefire

Biodiesel markets recover from ceasefire-driven selloff as European regulations reshape HVO and UCO demand.

Sugar prices under pressure as global surplus expectations dominate market sentiment

Global sugar surplus drives prices lower despite European beet acreage cuts and drought stress. Raw sugar hits $17.2/lb.

Sugar market analysis: Short-term volatility amidst long-term pressure

Vesper's latest sugar market analysis reveals short-term price support from Brazil's 53% production drop, while long-term bearish pressure looms from India and

Oceanian prices exceed expectations on the GDT

Latest Vesper market report reveals Oceania WMP jumped $365/mt at GDT while European butter falls to €7,100/mt amid peak milk production. Discover critical EU-U

US dairy markets hold steady amid global economic turbulence, tariff negotiations critical for export outlook

Discover how US dairy markets remain stable amid economic turbulence, with February production trends and 90-day tariff negotiations reshaping export dynamics.

The Global Impact of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on the Dairy Market

Explore the impact of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) on the global dairy market, from price shifts and buyer preferences to trade bans.

How the Dairy Market is Reacting to Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Germany: Impact on Butter, SMP, and WMP Exports and Prices

Explore how foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Germany is disrupting the dairy market. Get insights on the impact on butter, SMP, and WMP prices

Global Sugar Market Update: Pressure on global prices persists

Pressure on global sugar prices, production declines in Brazil & Europe, and the outlook for 2025. Stay informed with Vesper.

Biodiesel Market Update: Key Trends Driving Price Dynamics

The biodiesel market is experiencing notable shifts, with key factors shaping pricing and demand trends across regions. Biodiesel Prices Decline Amid Softer ...

European Sugar Market Update: Is This the Optimal Buying Window for European Buyers?

European Sugar Market Update: Is Now the Optimal Buying Window? Discover the latest on Europe’s sugar beet yield forecast...

4 Key Factors Driving Biodiesel Prices to New Highs

Discover the top 4 factors driving biodiesel prices to new highs, from increased demand and German regulations to supply disruptions.

Sucrose Levels Are Falling Below the 5-Year Average in Parts of Europe Due to Unfavorable Weather Patterns

Heavy rainfall and humidity in Germany and France are causing sucrose levels in sugar beets to fall below the 5-year average.

POME Market Update: Price Movements and Regulatory Changes

The latest insights on BMD Crude Palm Oil prices, Malaysia's palm oil stocks, and rising POME prices and Indonesia's new export regulations.

Rapeseed complex is stronger w-o-w on weather worries

Discover how adverse weather conditions in key regions are driving up rapeseed and canola prices. Explore the latest price increases here.

Dairy Market: European liquids prices are through the roof, with cream reaching extremely high

Discover the latest trends in the European dairy market. Declining milk production and more buyers influencing butter, SMP, and WMP prices.

Dairy Market Update: Fluctuations in Liquid Milk Prices

Understand the trends affecting raw milk, cream, SMC, and whey concentrate prices, and discover the implications of regional price variations

Increase in West-EU Biodiesel Prices Following New Legislations and Import Duties

Explore the significant increase in West-EU biodiesel prices driven by new German legislation and anticipated import duties.

Germany allows HVO100 and B10 sales at gas stations, driving ARA biodiesels up

RME, UCOME, FAME 0, and HVO (UCO) prices have all soared in West-EU markets in response to Germany's B10 and HVO100 pump sales policy change.

EU Sugar Production Forecast for 2024/2025, including Pricing Insights

Stay ahead with our EU Sugar Production Forecast for 2024/2025. Get insights into beet cultivation, market trends, and price indices.

European crop faces delays as main producers grapple with flooding and above-average rains

Explore the latest challenges in North West Europe's sugar harvest due to storms and saturated ground.

Factors contributing to the global decrease in rapeseed oil prices

Discover the latest sentiments in diesel and biodiesel demand with Vesper, and see how economic shifts affect the vegetable oil market.

EU biodiesel is down w-o-w, Vesper hears large purchases of Chinese biodiesel

Learn about the EU biodiesel dip and Chinese market movements with Vesper. Adapt your trading strategy with our timely insights.

Highlights on the Butter and Whey market: Is someone interested in proteins?

Dairy market sees strong supply in Northern Hemisphere, with production increases; demand uncertainty affects price stability.

Big differences are starting to occur between European countries

Significant variations have emerged among European countries in terms of milk production. While the latest data indicates that EU28 milk production has...

Historical high sugar prices push buyers to source outside Europe

White sugar prices soar to historic highs in the EU, driven by shortages and rising energy costs, averaging 1,199 EUR/MT at the negotiation period.

EU: official butter prices static

Zero changes to official butter prices in the three EU reference countries (Germany, France and the Netherlands) left the overall EU average for wholesale...

Brazil is likely to export record ethanol to Europe this year

Ethanol exports from Brazil are likely to increase to a record high level this year as the exports appear attractive to the domestic market, as per the...

EU: July milk production – signs of recovery

July milk production was down 0.5% in the EU, and up 0.4% from the previous month, according to the European Commission’s Milk Market Observatory. Of the...

EU: May Milk Production Up 0.8%

May milk production in the EU-27 was up 0.8%, according to the European Commission. May deliveries were up 4.0% in Ireland, up 2.5% in Italy, up 2.3% in...

Vegetable Oil Highlights

Palm oil prices took several big hits last week, dropping back to levels we have not seen since before the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine. In...

EU: PRODUCT MANUFACTURE FOLLOWS MILK DOWN

The European Commission has confirmed January milk production in the EU down 0.7%, with Ireland down 4.1%, the Netherlands down 2.7% and Germany and France...