Bean Market Update: Tight Supply, Stable Prices, and Cautious Demand Shape Outlook

The global beans market is navigating a period marked by tight supplies, stable price trends, and increasingly cautious buying. Data from key production hubs such as China indicate that mung bean availability remains below historical averages for this time of year. Warming temperatures are improving demand slightly, though most traders remain conservative in their procurement strategies. Meanwhile, competition for Uzbek and Myanmar mung beans is visibly strong amid restricted supplies; sellers withhold stocks hoping for higher prices, while downstream buyers show resistance to current offers, dampening market turnover.

For domestic Chinese sprouted beans, transactions are sluggish and revolve around immediate needs. The situation is reflected in recent FOB Beijing prices, where both organic and conventional varieties have eased modestly but still signal overall steadiness. Across the broader legume spectrum, consistent but selective interest is apparent—traders are watchful for supply disruptions or sudden demand shifts as the season progresses. This measured market stance stems from a convergence of supply limitations, cautious business sentiment, and stable pricing frameworks at major trading centres.

📈 Prices: Market Snapshot

Product	Type	Origin	Location	FOB Price (€/kg)	Prev. Price	Change (%)	Sentiment
Mung beans	Organic	CN	Beijing	1.49	1.51	-1.3%	Neutral to slightly bearish
Mung beans	3.8mm up	CN	Beijing	1.40	1.42	-1.4%	Steady
Kidney beans	Small, black, organic	CN	Beijing	1.48	1.50	-1.3%	Limited demand
Kidney beans	Large, white, organic	CN	Beijing	3.34	3.35	-0.3%	Stable
Kidney beans	Dark red, organic	CN	Beijing	2.48	2.47	+0.4%	Bullish undertone
Kidney beans	Dark red	BR	Brasília	1.42	1.42	0.0%	Stable
Kidney beans	White	GB	London	1.35	1.35	0.0%	Stable
Adzuki beans	Red, organic, 5.0mm up	CN	Beijing	1.54	1.56	-1.3%	Neutral

🌍 Supply & Demand: Tighter Supply, Conservative Purchases

• China: Green bean arrivals remain below average; stocks are thinnest since 2022. Merchants are sticking to just-in-time buying, with real demand expected to lift as summer advances and food consumption rises.
• Uzbekistan/Myanmar: Persistent supply tightness keeps prices firm despite light transactions—many suppliers are unwilling to lower prices, but actual trades are sparse.
• Domestic China: Weak movement in sprouting mung beans, with buyers largely purchasing based on immediate need only.

📊 Fundamentals: What’s Driving the Beans Market?

• Supply Restrictions: Limited carryover and reduced shipments from Myanmar and Uzbekistan constrain available stocks.
• Price Sensitivity: Downstream buyers in China and South Asia are increasingly price-sensitive, resulting in slow overall trade activity.
• Export vs. Domestic Dynamics: Exporters in Beijing report cautious interest; price dips are modest, but product availability is not robust enough to trigger aggressive buying.
• Speculative Positioning: With no major bullish news, speculative buying is subdued; most trades reflect genuine consumer or industrial demand.

☁️ Weather Outlook & Crop Impact

• China: Weather forecasts indicate above-average temperatures and intermittent showers across northeast and central bean-producing regions. This supports the maturation process but could also accelerate pest pressure and diseases if humid conditions persist.
• Uzbekistan/Myanmar: Continued dry spells in major bean belts limit yield potential; next month’s rainfall will be critical for any late-season improvement.

Potential Effects: Favourable weather may prompt improved supplies mid-season, but current dryness and heat risks mean production could fall short of last year’s levels in multiple key regions.

🌐 Global Production & Stocks Comparison

Country	2023/24 Prod. (est, kt)	2023/24 Stocks (kt)	Y-o-Y Change
China	1,800	220	-2.5%
Uzbekistan	620	68	-6%
Myanmar	800	88	-11%
Brazil	2,450	340	+5%
UK	380	27	Flat

📌 Trading Outlook & Recommendations

• Continue to buy only on immediate need—avoid overextending positions until clearer supply signals emerge.
• Monitor weather in China and Central Asia for any bullish turns (persistent drought or heat would be price-positive).
• Exporters should be ready for potential shipment delays from Myanmar and Uzbekistan in July/August.
• Downstream food producers may consider contracting forward to secure supply at current prices if they fear tightening stocks post-harvest.

📆 3-Day Regional Price Forecast

 

Product	Region	Current Price (€/kg)	3-Day Forecast (€/kg)	Trend
Mung beans (organic)	Beijing, CN	1.49	1.48 – 1.50	Stable
Mung beans (3.8 mm up)	Beijing, CN	1.40	1.39 – 1.41	Stable
Kidney beans (black, organic)	Beijing, CN	1.48	1.47 – 1.49	Sideways
Kidney beans (dark red, BR)	Brasília, BR	1.42	1.42	Stable