Chinese Bean FOB Prices Softly Mixed as Logistics Costs Climb

Chinese bean FOB prices are broadly stable to slightly softer, with minor weakness in large white kidney beans offset by firmer dark red and black types. Mung and adzuki beans are holding recent gains, but rising container freight to Europe is starting to cap upside. Over the next few days, benign weather across key North-East China origins and tight export logistics suggest a steady to mildly firm tone rather than a sharp move in either direction. China’s dry bean market is entering peak-field-development season with a relatively calm domestic price picture but a much more volatile logistics backdrop. FOB Beijing kidney beans show a narrow band of 1–3% week-on-week moves depending on colour and organic status, indicating largely balanced nearby supply and demand. Mung and adzuki beans remain well supported by export interest, while global data still show China as a competitive net exporter in mung beans. At the same time, Asia–Europe container spot rates have surged 10–15% in recent weeks, driven by early peak season demand and war-related diversions, which is eroding margins on new export business and encouraging some sellers to lift offer ideas or shorten validity periods. Weather in key producing provinces such as Heilongjiang is seasonally warm with only light, scattered rainfall, reducing immediate crop-risk headlines and keeping the focus firmly on currency and freight.

Prices

All prices converted approximately at 1.0 USD = 0.93 EUR for consistency.

These levels remain broadly in line with international benchmarks for Chinese mung beans, where recent global export unit values are around 1.72 EUR/kg but based on earlier-2024 customs data rather than current spot, placing today’s offers slightly below historical averages and supporting China’s competitiveness in mung exports.

Supply & Demand

Chinese bean supply in late June is shaped more by old-crop availability and new-crop planting progress than by acute weather stress. Key producing provinces in the north-east, including Heilongjiang, are experiencing warm conditions around 25–29°C with very limited daily rainfall (0–3 mm), conditions that are broadly supportive for vegetative growth and fieldwork without signalling drought stress yet.

On the demand side, international interest in Chinese mung beans remains underpinned by China’s role as a leading exporter with unit values historically competitive against other origins, though 2024 customs data indicated a decline in export value despite steady volumes. Pulse import demand in South and Southeast Asia is seasonally improving into Q3, while some buyers in Europe and the Middle East are reportedly cautious amid high freight and generally adequate inventories, limiting aggressive spot buying and contributing to the very narrow price band seen across mung and adzuki beans.

For kidney beans, China competes closely with Brazil and the UK in global trade, and the current marginal softening in Chinese large white FOBs suggests either slightly heavier nearby supply or some pushback from importers facing higher landed costs. At the same time, modest gains in dark red and black kidney beans point to steady niche demand, possibly from canning and blending segments seeking price alternatives to more expensive pulses such as lentils and chickpeas.

Fundamentals & Logistics

Beyond field conditions, logistics and freight are the dominant external driver for bean export pricing. Asia–Europe container rates have surged in June as peak season bookings arrived earlier than usual and vessels filled quickly, with some reports indicating Asia–Europe daily rates around 4,700 USD/FEU, roughly 13% higher just in the last week and well above last year’s peak levels. Major carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, have announced general rate increases and peak season surcharges on Far East–Europe lanes from 1 and 10 June respectively, reinforcing the upward pressure on freight costs.

Market commentaries from logistics providers confirm that Asia–Europe space is tight, with some carriers reportedly rolling containers and reducing allocations, while composite container indices and independent updates show a sustained rally in spot rates through mid to late June. For Chinese bean exporters, this environment effectively raises the EUR/tonne landed cost by a three-figure amount per FEU compared with early 2026, compressing margins at current FOB levels. As a result, some sellers are inclined to hold or slightly increase FOB offers despite relatively comfortable on-farm and warehouse stocks.

Domestically, fertiliser and energy markets in China are stable to mildly weaker, with nitrogen prices easing earlier in June as supply stayed ample and downstream demand cautious. This acts as a partial offset to cost inflation from freight, helping maintain a neutral-to-soft domestic cost base for bean growers and processors. Overall fundamentals therefore point to a market where logistics, rather than physical scarcity, will be the key determinant of short-term price action.

Weather Outlook – Key Chinese Bean Regions

Short-term weather forecasts for North-East China, particularly Heilongjiang and adjacent producing areas, indicate mostly warm, slightly above-average temperatures around 28–30°C with light and intermittent showers over the coming 3–5 days. Soil moisture is expected to remain adequate for vegetative growth, and no significant heat waves or flooding events are currently flagged by mainstream meteorological sources.

Given the stage of the season, this pattern is broadly neutral for yield prospects in mung, adzuki and kidney beans. Without a clear weather threat, speculative risk premiums remain limited, and trade flows and freight costs will likely overshadow meteorological factors for near-term pricing.

Trading Outlook (Next 1–2 Weeks)

• China mung beans: With FOB levels flat and export competitiveness intact, a mildly firm bias is likely if Asia–Europe freight stabilises; however, upside is capped by buyer resistance to higher landed costs. Short-term, buyers can consider covering prompt needs but avoid over-committing far forward until freight shows clearer direction.
• Kidney beans (large white): Recent price softening suggests some downside momentum has already been priced in. Importers seeking volume may find the current EUR/kg range attractive for staged purchases, while sellers should be cautious about further cuts given the squeeze from rising freight.
• Adzuki and specialty beans: Slight week-on-week gains reflect steady demand and limited top-quality supply. These segments are likely to remain range-bound; buyers should focus on quality differentiation and negotiate on freight-sharing mechanisms rather than headline FOB levels.

3-Day Directional Price Indication (FOB, Converted to EUR)

• China – Mung beans (all types, FOB North China): Stable to slightly firmer bias over the next three days, with indicative range around current 1.35–1.45 EUR/kg.
• China – Kidney beans (large white, FOB North China): Mostly stable after recent correction; prices likely to oscillate narrowly around 1.80–1.90 EUR/kg.
• China – Dark red & black kidney, adzuki beans: Sideways to mildly firm, supported by niche demand and freight costs; expect trades to cluster near current levels with a +/- 1–2% band.