Prices slightly higher than mid-July levels due to Black Sea market pressures but seen as reasonable under current market conditions.

The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) has concluded its international tender for the import of 225,000 tons of feed barley. The best offers received in the July 31 tender ranged between $231.90 and $239 per ton on a CFR (cost and freight) basis, with port-specific deliveries scheduled between August 8 and 29.

According to industry sources, the most competitive offers varied by port. Notably, Iskenderun received bids from Danem (30,000 tons at $234.90), Team Agro (10,000 tons at $236), and Bunge (35,000 tons at $239). Mersin’s full 25,000-ton allocation was awarded to Cemile at $236.90, while İzmir’s volume was split between Yayla (30,000 tons at $236.50) and Erkan Agro (20,000 tons at $236.70). Bandırma’s lots went to GFT Agro, Üçel, Yayla, and Erkan Agro, with prices ranging from $231.90 to $237.80.

In the Black Sea region, Raya offered 25,000 tons to Tekirdağ at $233.80, Bek Tarım covered Samsun with two offers at $237.20, and Sibirya Tarım bid $238.70 for Trabzon.

Source: İsmail Kemaloğlu

Şaban Buttanrı, CEO of Agrolino, commented that while the tender prices are $15–20 per ton higher than mid-July international levels, they remain reasonable. He pointed out that the rise is partly due to recent wheat price increases in Black Sea countries and aligns with current Russian wheat offers.

Former TMO General Manager İsmail Kemaloğlu emphasized from his social media account that, even after adding port-related costs, the imported barley remains significantly cheaper than domestic prices. However, he also underlined the structural challenges faced by Turkish farmers, such as small farm sizes, high input costs, and costly logistics, which limit their competitiveness against large-scale producers in Black Sea countries.