Starch market showing tendency towards rising prices

摘要

Shortly before the end of the quarter, the starch market is relatively quiet. Where contracts for large volumes are involved, it is not unusual for market players to have agreed on an extension of existing contracts, e.g. until the middle of the year. In cases where quarterly contracts are the norm, negotiations are due to begin soon. As regards objectives and notions of these negotiations, EUWID sources report that starch manufacturers had been keeping silent for a long time. From the standpoint of suppliers, however, it is obvious that starch prices are showing a tendency to rise. This ultimately applies for all grades of starch, say industry representatives, complaining about the inadequate profitability of their business. Prices for cereal starch had fallen sharply again recently, by roughly ?20/t with effect from the first quarter. Insiders have been reporting isolated instances of low-price deliveries in the last few weeks as well.