Serbian Corn and Wheat Prices Rise as Farmers Hold Back Grain
Corn and wheat prices rose on the Novi Sad Commodity Exchange as Serbian farmers limited sales in expectation of better terms. Demand strengthened, but constrained availability reduced trading across several agricultural markets.
Serbian grain prices edge higher on limited supply
Corn and wheat prices rose modestly on the Novi Sad Commodity Exchange during the latest week, while the availability of both grains remained restricted. According to press.rs, Serbian producers are reluctant to sell at current quotations because domestic prices remain below global levels and farmers expect more favorable market conditions.
Corn from the 2026 crop traded at 19.20-19.80 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax. The weighted average reached 19.43 dinars per kilogram, an increase of 1.13% from the previous week. Buyers concentrated mainly on the new crop, while interest in older corn was weaker.
A transaction involving corn from the 2025 crop was completed only near the end of the week. The grain, sold without an aflatoxin analysis, changed hands at 19.70 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax.
Wheat demand rises, but sellers remain scarce
Demand for wheat strengthened during the week, but available volumes were very limited. Contracts were concluded at 20.00-20.50 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax. The weighted average price was 20.19 dinars per kilogram, 0.42% above the previous week.
Higher-quality wheat commanded a premium. The Ikona variety, with a minimum protein content of 16%, traded at 22.20 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax. The difference from the broader wheat range highlights the value attached to protein specifications when overall market availability is tight.
The reduced supply of primary agricultural commodities partly reflected ongoing sunflower, soybean and corn harvesting. Farmers were also deliberately holding stocks rather than accepting current bids. The resulting imbalance left buyers trying to secure necessary volumes in a rising market.
Soybean and barley trading stalls
Soybean demand increased, but no supply was offered and therefore no transactions were recorded. Buyers indicated prices of 55.00-56.50 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax, subject to quality calculations. The absence of sellers suggests that firmer bids alone were insufficient to release stocks during the reporting period.
Feed barley also saw little activity. At the beginning of the week, buyers offered 17.80-18.00 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax, against sellers' indications of 18.00-18.30 dinars. Buyers withdrew during the second half of the week, and no contracts were concluded.
Sunflower remains the most active oilseed market
Sunflower demand was continuous and prices were relatively stable. Contracts were signed at 52.00-52.20 dinars per kilogram excluding value-added tax, with an average of 52.16 dinars. That represented a weekly increase of 0.21%.
Press.rs noted that global food prices are at multiyear highs based on FAO data, while Serbian corn and wheat quotations have not reached comparable levels. That gap is encouraging producers to postpone sales. For grain processors, livestock businesses and traders, the immediate issue is therefore physical availability rather than a lack of buying interest.
The weekly movements were small, but they occurred in a thin market. Corn's 1.13% increase exceeded the gains in wheat and sunflower, yet limited turnover makes price discovery more dependent on the volumes farmers choose to release. Continued withholding could support domestic quotations, while a larger post-harvest flow would give buyers more negotiating room.
