PULSE MARKET UPDATE – September / October 2025

Commentary

In the first of these bulletins since the 2025 harvest there might appear to be a lot upon which to reflect. The excellent start to a Spring full of optimism, the later concern as the countrywide drought took hold, then serious recognition of the implications for all crop types with the spike in early summer temperatures. The reality is that many pulse crops sown after the beginning of March, saw little or no rain in the entire crop cycle. This challenge has resulted in widespread variability in crop performance even within local geographic areas, let alone regionally. A statement that could perhaps be made about most UK arable crops in 2024.

The market for mid value proteins is mainly in the animal feed sector and there has been some suggestion that the closure of UK ethanol plants could have implications for demand, with about 750,000 tonnes of DDGs set to disappear from the market. This demand must appear on the feed balance sheet somewhere, perhaps a light of optimism for the pulse market. It is yet to become clear where this will materialise, and it is always possible that the impact is already priced into the market. There are plenty of non-pulse crop options, not only the relentless pressure of low cost imported soya products but also the resurgent rise in local oilseed rape meal availability and the opportunity for DDGs imports from alternative sources.

The European pulse market continues to be heavily influenced by increasing bean production on the continent, the low prices of Canadian pea exports and the easy availability of low cost peas from Russia and Ukraine within Europe.

Old crop beans from Australia sit in the market and the new crop is forecast to be good, with harvest expected to start early – in November. Australian quality is perceived as better than European production in the human consumption markets, so an early harvest and potentially earlier shipment programme narrows the window of opportunity for UK exporters.

At the time of writing DEFRA figures for the UK crop area 2025 have still not been released. So, adding yield variability to an unconfirmed crop area makes forecasting UK crop sizes no easier. The trade is generally expecting the total UK bean crop to be between 400,000 and 475,000 tonnes. Of course this is not all tradable. With quantities being grown and retained for seed, and some accounted for farm use as feed, the actual tradable bean crop from the 2025 harvest could be the lowest for several seasons. This uncertainty creates nervousness and a cautious approach in the market.

The negative impact of policy via the SFI scheme and options for those within SFI to increase their commitment, will continue to hang over sentiment in the pulse crop industry for some time to come. The added uncertainty of any new scheme, yet to be released, does nothing to settle direction about forward crop decisions and rotations. The apparent resurgence of oilseed rape crop performance in 2025 may also cause some to sit back in consideration.

As we approach the end of September there will already be some intending to sow winter beans, looking for an early drilling opportunity. The generally recommended time for drilling is from the middle of October but in recent years and without a severe winter, those going early and drilling deep have not seen any penalty.

UK PULSES

Feed Beans
The market has continued to be quiet. With only slight fluctuations, prices have remained almost static for well over 12 months, making the trading environment lack lustre.

In comparison to alternative protein sources feed beans continue to be too high to move in significant volumes. Buyers including major feed compounders, who are not tied to a requirement to use beans and are free to utilise an absolute least cost approach, have  largely factored beans out of the diets in favour of other protein sources such as oilseed rape and soya meals, both of which, along with other commodities, have fallen considerably in values in recent months. Feed bean values, depending upon location, range between about £205 – £215 /t ex farm. It has been the case for months that forward sellers may be rewarded with a slight premium but with the spot prices remaining stubbornly static for those seeking crop movement.

With premiums for beans over other equivalent sources of up £50/ tonne, the pressure on bean values appears to be downward. However, at present there are few buyers and only limited interest in farm sellers – it is perhaps only this and the activities of short sellers in the trade that maintains the current levels. The situation is similar for feed exports. Markets are now under pressure from a Baltic crop pf lower quality offered at lower values, combined with the same price pressures from alternatives in the domestic market. There are few export bids at this time.

Export beans for human consumption
The demand for exports is low. The destination markets are carrying significant stocks from crop 2024 and the premiums over ex farm feed values are currently only £5-£10/t. At these levels few growers are anxious to sell, many hoping to hold out for a rise.
Somewhat unusually winter beans have generally produced a better physical appearance than spring beans in 2025. The later harvested crops produced a small bean size and together with bruchid damage, late rain added skin spotting further spoiling the finish. Pretty samples are in short supply.

UK combining peas
The market appears to have been caught out a little by the volumes of peas being offered post-harvest. There is some suggestion that carryover has been larger than expected and that there may have been more open market peas produced in 2025 than had been realised. The lack of crop area confirmation already alluded to, stresses this uncertainty.
These off-contract peas are receiving few if any offers at present. With the traders focussed upon contracted crop obligations it looks like they will be hard to sell in the short term.
The withdrawal of the ADM processing facility at Long Sutton creates a new dynamic in the market for 2025, the implications of which will take little time to settle.

Unless specified as related to contracts, price indications below refer to produce offered in the free or open market.

Green peas
The market is currently well supplied with contracted commitments. Buyers of open market produce are few and far between at present. Quality is very variable and at the top of the market are samples retaining good colour and without any issues for soaking and cooking. These will possibly have been contracted at around £360t ex farm, and open market sellers, if they can find a buyer, are likely to have to accept a discount.

While the Micronisers are showing little market interest at present, when they return they will only pay top prices for samples with the good colour retention ( less than 10% bleaching) and an indicative value might be £320/t ex farm.
Bleaching above 10% will drag open market produce down further, to perhaps £250/t ex farm. It is worth noting that contracts for crop 2025 were available at £300/t ex farm without a bleaching clause and growers with those contracts have secured themselves a significant safety net.
Quality below that relegates peas to animal feed, at a level at or below that of feed beans.
The price penalty between the best quality green peas and peas for feed is considerable and combined with the difficulty placing open market peas at present underlines the benefit of making decisions early and producing quality produce to a contract.

Contracts for crop 2026 are now possible at up to £360/t ex farm. Clauses will apply. Speak to your preferred merchant.

Marrowfat peas
Contracts from 2025 are still being evaluated and with lower priced competition especially from Canada, markets are saturated at home and abroad,.
Significant quantities of off contract Marrowfat peas are being presented. Even good quality samples are currently without a home. Offers below £350/t ex farm are not what farmers are looking for and the trade is unlikely to better, for the time being. Having taken a production contract for crop 2025 looks increasingly like a smart move.

With the trade keen to maintain grower interest, contracts for crop 2026 are available up to £450/t ex farm with various quality clauses and bonuses possible- ask your merchant for details.

Yellow peas
Perhaps the most disappointing sector of the market. Significant volumes have been produced off contract with some good results and nice samples. The market for food in the UK however is still small and despite the longer-term belief in protein isolate, starch and flour production requirements there is still not large scale processing market in the UK. Contracting in 2025 offered prices of up to £350/t ex farm, setting the costs for the current crop yet samples are competing in the feed market where prices are dragged down by availability from Europe and Canada at cheap prices. Imported yellow peas delivered UK destination are freely available at €290 /t or less, leaving nothing for trade interest.

Currently international surplus means the market is over supplied and has reduced any enthusiasm for 2026 contract placement.

Maple peas
Feast and famine continues to blight this sector. Yields from the small number of contract crops in 2025 have generally disappointed and the produce is now shorter than had been anticipated.
Open market availability does exist, but growers with produce are putting a high price on what they have, and the trade is currently unable to bridge the gap at present.
Contracts for crop 2026 are available at around £450/t ex farm. Again clauses will apply.

Supply and demand in Maple peas does not seem to easily find a balance as the market size is small, and most contracting merchants hold back to their core demand. As noted in earlier reports, a slightly lower yield potential over green and yellow peas should be expected with a further reduction for late drilling.

NOTE:
“This report is independently compiled by the PGRO using a variety of information sources and summarised commentary from within the UK pulse trade. It is intended as a guide only without any guarantees. It is accurate to the best PGRO’s knowledge at the time of compilation, but no assurance is given, nor any acceptance of responsibility for actions taken as a result of its use.”

 

Agronomy notes:
PEA BRUCHID
Growers and traders alike are urged to look out for Pea Bruchid damage in peas from the crop 2025.
Pea Bruchid has not previously been found in a UK crop. This year it was detected post-harvest in a crop near Cambridge. The potential for this pest to do severe damage to the UK pea industry is serious The incident and background information  is reported here: https://pgro.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e0243d73c826920b2dbfeb78b&id=67dd732365&e=a1a9e09fd1

PGRO working with the AIC , BSPB and other trade organisations, will communicate further advisory bulletins in due course. In the first instance all are urged to carefully inspect produce in stores, samples and deliveries ASAP and report any suspicious insects or damage using the PGRO Crop Monitor App. Available free of charge from Google play and Apple i-tunes stores.

Infested produce should not be moved other than to an authorised place for fumigation. More information here:
Podcast discussion:
https://rss.com/podcasts/pgro-inside-the-pod/
Youtube video Short:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ejtn7qnjocE

LOOKING AHEAD TO CROP 2026 Soils tests for peas are available at PGRO to test levels of the above-mentioned foot rot pathogens in soils. Test results allow growers to avoid planting peas in fields which show a high risk of foot rot pathogen presence.

PGRO YouTube videos and Podcasts: A host of instructive videos, video shorts and podcast episodes can be found here:

The next Pulse Market Update:
October / November 2025