China’s White Bean Market: Holiday Lull Meets Firm Prices Amid Tight Supply

The Chinese white bean market is navigating a period of cautious equilibrium as February draws to a close. According to direct exporter feedback, prices are either remaining stable or seeing slight increases, underpinned by firm overall sentiment. This stability comes despite generally tepid activity: in major production areas, farmers are increasingly occupied with non-agricultural activities, and many processing plants have entered their holiday shutdowns ahead of the Spring Festival, significantly restricting available supply.

At the same time, demand in key consuming regions is muted, with most buyers focused on small-scale, end-of-festival restocking rather than major purchases. This has created a stand-off dynamic between supply and demand. As the national holiday sets in, the market cools further, with most participants digesting existing inventories and only a few sourcing beans as needed for immediate sales. With these prevailing trends, bean prices are anticipated to remain largely stable through the holiday period, supported more by supply-side tightness than surging demand.

📈 Prices: Latest FOB Export Quotes

Product	Origin	Type	Purity	Organic	FOB Price (EUR/kg)	Prev. Price	Update Date	Sentiment
Kidney beans	Brazil	Dark red	–	No	1.41	1.42	2026-02-21	Softening
Kidney beans	Brazil	Brown eye	–	No	1.36	1.37	2026-02-21	Softening
Kidney beans	UK	White (99%)	99%	No	1.34	1.35	2026-02-21	Stable/Softening

🌍 Supply & Demand Dynamics

• Supply Tightness: Farm-level sales in China are shrinking as farmers shift focus away from trading, and with many primary processing plants on holiday, physical supply is tapering off significantly.
• Demand Side: Buyers in the main consumption regions are adopting a wait-and-see approach, making only minimal purchases for post-holiday needs. Consumption is subdued, with a drawdown on inventories rather than aggressive buying.
• Market Stalemate: This environment has led to a supply-demand standoff, with neither side willing or able to shift price momentum significantly.

📊 Fundamentals & External Influences

• USDA & Govt. Reports: No significant recent updates; trade is guided by direct market signals rather than official forecasts.
• Inventory Management: Most market participants are running down existing stocks during the Spring Festival period.
• Speculative Positioning: Minimal, as the holiday period encourages defensive trading strategies and risk aversion.

🌦️ Weather Outlook & Crop Impact

• The Spring Festival aligns with a natural lull in agricultural production; no immediate weather risks reported for key Chinese bean-growing provinces. However, earlier planting/harvest conditions have contributed to the current supply situation by encouraging quick sales and now limiting farmers’ engagement in market activities.

🌐 Global Production & Stocks

• China: Central, with tight short-term domestic supply due to holiday closures and labor redirection. Stock drawdown in commercial channels continues.
• Brazil & UK: Export quotes from Brazil and UK suggest softening prices, likely due to adequate global availabilities outside the Chinese market’s unique holiday stall.
• Other Major Producers: No significant harvest or logistics news altering the global bean market balance this period.

📝 Trading Outlook & Recommendations

• Short-term stability is expected in Chinese white bean prices due to concurrent supply and demand lulls.
• Importers and processors should prioritize inventory drawdown or spot purchases as needed for immediate requirements rather than large-volume contracts.
• Monitor price signals closely after the Spring Festival, as a post-holiday resurgence in trading intensity is possible if processors and farmers return in force.
• Global buyers could consider alternative origins (Brazil, UK) in the short term for competitive offers, noting slight price easing there.
• Remain risk-averse: market volatility is limited now but could rise if supply bottlenecks intensify post-holiday.

📆 3-Day Price Forecast (FOB, Key Hubs)

Market	Price Direction	Expected Movement
China (White Beans, Export)	Stable	+0.0% to +0.2%, supported by tight supply
Brazil (Kidney Beans, Dark Red)	Slightly Softer	-0.5% to 0.0%, reflecting global supply ease
UK (White Kidney Beans)	Stable/Softer	-0.5% to 0.0%, limited trade volume