Chinese Pumpkin Seed Kernels Edge Higher on Steady Demand and Firm FOBs

Chinese pumpkin seed kernel prices are edging higher, led by premium shine skin and GWS grades FOB North China, while underlying export demand remains steady and weather is largely neutral for crops. In the Chinese pumpkin seed kernel market, recent FOB quotations from Beijing and Dalian show a mild upward bias in premium grades, with organic shine skin and higher grades consolidating gains made since late August. Weather across key producing provinces in northern China is currently seasonally warm and mostly dry, supporting late crop maturation without major harvest disruptions. Export data and market overviews point to resilient overseas demand for Chinese-origin pumpkin seeds, especially from the US and Asian buyers, helping to underpin prices despite only modest domestic consumption signals. Over the next few days, stable weather around key coastal logistics hubs such as Dalian and Beijing suggests low immediate risk to supply chains or quality, keeping the near‑term price outlook moderately firm.

Prices

All prices below are approximate FOB China, converted to EUR at 1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR for comparability.

*Dalian quotations are stable versus early September, with no confirmed moves in the last week.

External market intelligence indicates that Chinese pumpkin seed exports remain active, with hundreds of shipments and diversified destinations, especially to North America and Asia, which helps to keep FOB offers supported around current levels.

Supply & Demand

Weather across northern China in mid‑September is generally favourable for pumpkin seed crops. In the Dalian area, recent and forecast temperatures are around 20–26°C with mainly sunny to partly cloudy skies and no significant rainfall over the coming days, limiting disease pressure during late maturity and early drying.

In Beijing and surrounding producing regions, September 2026 is characterised by warm days (highs mostly mid‑20s to high‑20s °C) and limited heavy rainfall events, pointing to mostly normal fieldwork conditions and low risk of widespread quality loss at this stage.

On the demand side, export data confirm that China is one of the leading global exporters of pumpkin seed kernels, with steady shipment flows to 16 or more destination markets, underlining firm baseline demand. Healthy snacking and functional food trends in key importing regions continue to support buying interest, but there are no strong signals of a short‑term demand shock up or down in the last few days.

Fundamentals & Weather Outlook (CN)

Fundamentally, the combination of seasonally good weather, ongoing harvest progress and unbroken export flows points to an adequate overall supply picture in China, but not an oversupply situation. Current stable‑to‑firm FOB offers suggest that sellers see enough forward demand to resist discounting, particularly for higher grades and organic material.

For the next three days (17–19 September 2026), Dalian is forecast to see sunshine and scattered clouds, with highs near 25–26°C, lows around 19–21°C and moderate onshore winds, conditions that are supportive for drying and transport operations at port. Beijing is expected to remain mostly dry and warm, with highs in the mid‑20s to upper‑20s °C and no persistent heavy rain signals, allowing uninterrupted logistics from inland storage and processing facilities.

Short-Term Trading Outlook (EUR‑based)

• Exporters in China: With FOB prices for premium shine skin AA and GWS AA showing a mild upward tendency and solid export demand, consider holding offers slightly above current midpoint levels in EUR terms, especially for certified organic or high‑spec lots.
• Importers in EU: Given stable weather and no immediate supply shocks, near‑term downside looks limited; securing part of Q4 coverage at current EUR‑converted levels may hedge against incremental firmness if overseas demand picks up further.
• Industrial users: For lower grades (A / A+), where week‑on‑week changes are marginal, maintain a staggered buying strategy rather than front‑loading, but avoid delaying core coverage in expectation of a sharp price correction that current fundamentals do not justify.

3‑Day Directional Price Indication (CN, FOB, in EUR)

• Beijing – shine skin AA (organic & conventional): Slightly firmer bias over the next 3 days, with any new business likely to clear at the upper end of the recent EUR range rather than below it.
• Beijing – GWS A / AA: Broadly stable with a mild upward tilt; tighter spreads emerging between A and AA as buyers show preference for better colour and size.
• Dalian – shine skin & GWS all grades: Mostly stable in EUR terms, with scope for small, deal‑specific increases if logistics remain smooth and export enquiries persist.