UK Pea Market Holds Steady as Cool Weather Supports New-Crop Prospects

UK dried pea prices are holding flat with limited nearby trade, while cool, mostly dry weather underpins a broadly stable outlook for new‑crop supply over the coming days. In the UK, London FOB values for green and marrowfat peas are unchanged week‑on‑week, reflecting balanced spot fundamentals and a lack of major supply shocks. Overseas pulse markets are also described as generally steady, with North American pea prices flat on the week, suggesting no immediate external price pull for UK exporters. At the same time, European fresh‑pea wholesale prices remain firm but not spiking, reinforcing the picture of solid but unspectacular demand in the wider region. Short‑term UK weather forecasts point to cool temperatures and only light rainfall in southern England, supportive for crop establishment without creating harvest‑style fieldwork delays.

Prices

UK FOB London prices for dried peas remain unchanged versus the previous week:

• Green peas (GB origin, FOB London): ~€0.94/kg (≈£1.02/kg), flat over the last three reported updates.
• Marrowfat peas (GB origin, FOB London): ~€1.23/kg (≈£1.33/kg), also flat over the same period.
• Ukrainian green peas (FCA Odesa, 98%): ~€0.31/kg (≈£0.34/kg), steady in late April after a minor earlier dip.
• Ukrainian yellow peas (FCA Odesa, 98%): ~€0.24/kg (≈£0.26/kg), likewise steady following a small decline.

Recent US pulse market data show green and yellow pea values reported as “steady” in the latest USDA‑based regional review for North Dakota/Montana, confirming a broadly sideways global tone for peas in early May.

Supply & Demand

On the supply side, there are no fresh UK‑specific disruptions reported in the last three days. Recent global pulse commentary highlights that green peas tend to face a more comfortable supply cushion than yellow peas into 2026/27, implying relatively less upside risk for green pea prices if demand underperforms.

In Europe, wholesale prices for fresh shelling peas in Poland are trading around €0.84–1.05/kg at key markets in early May, signalling reasonable demand but no sign of shortage‑driven spikes. Combined with the UK’s historically strong marrowfat export channel to Japan for snacks, this suggests that current UK dried pea values are well‑anchored by export and processing demand rather than speculative flows.

Fundamentals & Weather

Short‑term weather for London and surrounding southern England from 10–12 May points to daytime highs of about 14–16°C, lows near 5–8°C, mostly cloudy skies and limited rainfall. These cool, generally dry conditions are typical for peas at this time of year and should support establishment for spring‑sown combining peas without adding drought stress over a three‑day horizon.

Broader UK agronomy guidance for 2026 continues to describe peas as a viable break crop option rather than an acreage growth hotspot, indicating only modest shifts in planted area rather than aggressive expansion. With global pulses demand expected to grow gradually on the back of plant‑protein trends rather than sudden shocks, the short‑term balance for UK peas appears neutral: comfortable carry‑in, steady seeding progress and no weather premium for now.

Trading Outlook (Next 1–2 Weeks)

• UK sellers (farmers, merchants): With London FOB prices flat and no immediate weather or export shock, holding a portion of old crop is reasonable, but consider scaling out on any modest rallies, especially in marrowfat peas where export demand can be price‑sensitive.
• Domestic buyers (packers, food manufacturers): Current levels look attractive versus historical marrowfat premiums and against higher European fresh‑pea equivalents. Locking in near‑term cover at today’s flat prices reduces exposure to any later weather‑driven volatility.
• Importers in Europe/Asia: The wide gap between UK and Black Sea pea values suggests continued competitiveness of Ukrainian origins for feed and some food channels, while UK marrowfats remain a speciality niche; maintain a diversified origin mix to manage logistics and geopolitical risk.

3‑Day Price Direction (Region: GB)

• Green peas, FOB London: Sideways in EUR terms over the next three days; stable weather and calm global benchmarks offer little near‑term direction.
• Marrowfat peas, FOB London: Sideways; no fresh demand shock from snacking or canning segments expected in the very short run.
• Import parity versus Black Sea peas (green/yellow): Spread likely to remain wide but stable; freight and risk premia rather than origin price changes are expected to dominate any minor moves.