- Strong demand: Turkey’s TMO booked the full 210,000 tons of feed barley, underscoring firm import needs ahead of late-winter consumption.
- Competitive pricing: CFR values below $261/ton highlight ample Black Sea supply and restrained upside in near-term barley prices.
- Logistics pressure: A tight Jan 26–Feb 24 shipment window may temporarily strain Black Sea–Mediterranean freight and support regional basis levels.
- Trader concentration: Bunge and Ipek captured over 90% of awarded volume, reinforcing their dominant position in Turkish feed barley imports.
Turkey Secures 210,000 Tons of Feed Barley at January Tender
The Turkish Grain Agency (TMO) finalized its international feed barley tender on January 15, awarding the full 210,000 tons initially tendered. The volume will be delivered to seven key ports across Turkey’s Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts under a compressed shipment window from January 26 to February 24.
Three major trading houses captured the awards: Bunge led with 100,000 tons (47.6% of total), Ipek followed closely with 90,000 tons (42.9%), and Arion secured 20,000 tons (9.5%). The allocation pattern underscores the continued dominance of established global and regional players in supplying Turkey’s feed grain needs.
Tender Pricing and Port Allocation
Winning offers showed CFR prices in a narrow band between $259.5 and $260.9 per ton, while EXW prices ranged from $263.9 to $269 per ton. The modest spread between CFR and EXW values reflects current freight and internal logistics costs into Turkish ports.
| Port | Volume (tons) | Supplier | Price ($/ton) | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iskenderun | 50,000 | Ipek | 259.5 | CFR |
| Iskenderun | 25,000 | Bunge | 269.0 | EXW |
| Adana | 50,000 | Bunge | 260.9 | CFR |
| Mersin | 25,000 | Bunge | 266.8 | EXW |
| Izmir | 25,000 | Ipek | 265.4 | EXW |
| Samsun | 10,000 | Ipek | 265.8 | EXW |
| Trabzon | 20,000 | Arion | 266.4 | EXW |
| Giresun | 5,000 | Ipek | 263.9 | EXW |
Market Impact and Logistics Outlook
The completion of this tender confirms sustained Turkish demand for imported feed barley, even as global grain markets adjust to shifting supply from the Black Sea region. CFR prices just under $261 per ton indicate adequate nearby supply, limiting immediate upside for exporters but helping stabilize feed costs for Turkish buyers.
The four-week shipment window from late January to late February is relatively tight for a 210,000-ton program and may temporarily tighten vessel availability, particularly on Black Sea–to–Mediterranean routes. This could support spot freight rates and narrow margins for traders with weaker logistical setups, while favoring those with established shipping infrastructure and port access.
The observed $3–9 per ton spread between CFR and EXW deals broadly aligns with current logistics costs into Turkey and highlights the advantage of origins and traders able to optimize freight, storage, and inland transport. If Turkey continues to tender at this pace, regional barley flows from the Black Sea are likely to remain robust through the first quarter.
Source: Market Data
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