Chinese Bean Prices Hold Firm as Kidney Beans Ease and Weather Stays Moist

Chinese bean markets are mixed but generally steady in late June, with mung and adzuki beans flat to slightly firmer while several kidney bean grades soften on cautious export demand. Weather in key northern production areas is moist but not yet threatening, keeping near‑term supply risks limited. Overall, the tone is range‑bound with modest downside in large white kidney beans and stable premiums for organic pulses. China’s edible bean complex is trading sideways into the end of June, with export FOB offers in Beijing broadly stable over the last two weeks. Mung beans remain tightly supplied but prices are capped by subdued global demand, while adzuki beans are quiet with only marginal upticks. Kidney beans show the clearest price slippage, reflecting comfortable on‑farm stocks and buyers’ reluctance to extend coverage amid generally weak grain and feed markets in China. Recent widespread rainfall across Northeast China has improved soil moisture for 2026 bean crops, but no major flood or drought signals have emerged for now.

Prices

FOB Beijing bean prices (converted from USD using ~1 EUR = 1.08 USD) point to a broadly stable market. Mung beans (conventional and organic) have been unchanged since mid‑June, while adzuki beans ticked up by about USD 0.01/kg over the last week. Kidney bean quotes show small but notable declines for large white types and some firmness in dark red and black grades.

External reference data show China’s export unit value for mung beans around 1.85 USD/kg in early June, modestly higher year‑on‑year and broadly consistent with current FOB offers, underlining a firm but not overheated market.

Supply & Demand

Global dried bean trade remains subdued, with recent analysis highlighting quiet markets for black kidney and adzuki beans and notably low mung bean stocks. Chinese exporters report slow activity after the Lunar New Year and a general reluctance by farmers to sell when prices soften, which has helped keep local quotations supported despite sluggish export interest.

Within China, broader grain market reports for May and early June point to pressure from high inventories and weak downstream feed demand, especially in the hog sector. While this mainly affects soymeal and feed grains, the cautious sentiment is spilling over into pulses, with buyers limiting forward coverage. Nonetheless, structural food demand for pulses continues to grow, with official analyses noting China as one of Asia’s fastest‑expanding pulse markets in recent years.

Weather & Crop Conditions (China)

China’s National Meteorological Center has repeatedly issued rainstorm alerts in June, with heavy rainfall affecting parts of Northeast China (Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia) where a large share of mung and adzuki beans is grown. Local historical weather data for Changchun and broader Heilongjiang confirm a wet, relatively cool June pattern, supportive for early vegetative growth of beans after planting from late May to early June.

While soil moisture is generally favorable, persistent heavy rains could raise localized waterlogging and disease risks if storms intensify in early July. At this stage, however, there are no confirmed large‑scale yield threats, so weather is a mildly supportive rather than a bullish factor for prices.

Fundamentals & Price Drivers

• Stocks and farmer selling: Industry commentary notes comfortable domestic stocks of black kidney beans and adzuki beans, with farmers showing limited selling interest at lower bids. This underpins current prices even as export demand lags.
• Export demand: Global edible bean trade has been quiet, with importers in key destinations (e.g., Middle East, East Asia) buying hand‑to‑mouth. Combined with weaker appetite for other grains and oilseeds in China, this keeps a lid on bullish moves for beans.
• Competition from other pulses: Abundant and relatively cheap soybeans in China’s feed complex reduce substitution into feed pulses, while consumer‑oriented pulse demand continues to grow only gradually.

Trading Outlook & 3‑Day Price View

• Mung beans (CN): With low stocks but muted demand, prices are likely to stay firm within a narrow band. Importers and food manufacturers can secure nearby needs now, but may wait on larger forward coverage until clearer signals on export demand later in Q3.
• Kidney beans (CN): The recent easing in large white kidney bean prices suggests some short‑term downside risk remains. Buyers may stagger purchases, while sellers should consider locking in remaining old‑crop volumes before potential harvest‑related pressure in late summer.
• Adzuki beans (CN): Quiet trading and adequate stocks point to continued range‑bound pricing. Niche users can maintain normal procurement cycles without urgency.

3‑day directional outlook (EUR, FOB Beijing, June 26–28, 2026)

• Mung beans (conv./organic): Stable, bias slightly firm on tight nearby availability.
• Kidney beans (large white, dark red, black): Slightly soft for large white; mostly stable for dark red and black types.
• Adzuki beans (red): Stable within a very narrow range, low trading volume.