Wheat Prices Retreat as Year-End Trading Winds Down

DegenApeSurfer · 2026-01-04T15:00:06+00:00

Wheat markets are softening ahead of the New Year holiday, with significant drops in export sales and prices across all contracts. Weekly data showed a sharp decline in shipments, contributing to overall market pressure as trading pauses for the holiday.

DegenApeSurfer

2026-01-04 15:00:06

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Wheat markets are showing notable softness as traders prepare for the New Year holiday break. The complex declined across all major trading hubs on Wednesday, with price pressures continuing through midday session. The market will observe closure on Thursday for New Year’s Day, resuming trading Friday morning at 8:30 am CST with a hard open.

Export Sales Paint Mixed Picture

Weekly export sales data released this morning revealed 147,834 MT in wheat shipments during the week ending December 18. While this figure fell within analysts’ expected range of 50,000 MT net reductions to 400,000 MT in sales, the volume represented a sharp contraction. Compared to the previous week, sales declined 35.83%, and year-over-year comparison shows an even steeper 75.86% drop for the same week in 2024.

Weakness Extends Across All Contracts

Chicago SRW wheat futures experienced modest pressure, trading 2 to 3 cents lower, while KC HRW varieties saw more significant selling, declining 5 to 6 cents on the session. Minneapolis spring wheat joined the decline, softening 2 to 3 cents by midday trading.

The wheat rate today reflects broad-based losses across contract maturities. March 2026 CBOT wheat settled at $5.07 3/4, marking a 3-cent decline, while May 2026 CBOT wheat slipped to $5.19 1/4, down 2 3/4 cents. Kansas City March 2026 contracts fell to $5.16 (down 6 cents) with May 2026 trading at $5.29 1/2, off 5 1/2 cents. Minneapolis varieties also retreated, with March 2026 at $5.76 1/4 (down 2 1/4 cents) and May 2026 at $5.87 (down 2 cents).

This combination of weak export demand and holiday-thinned liquidity continues to weigh on wheat rate levels as the market enters the final trading days of 2025.

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