The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) has announced its March sales prices for durum and bread wheat as well as barley. While the price bands maintained in recent months have largely been preserved, the discounted sale of regional stocks has drawn attention. The controlled pricing policy is seen as a continuation of the institution’s strategy prioritizing market stability in the pre-harvest period.

The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) published its new sales price list, effective as of March 3, 2026. According to the table released by the institution, limited revisions were made to domestic durum wheat, bread wheat, and barley prices compared to previous months, while the overall price level has been maintained within the band preserved over the past four to five months.

DISCOUNTED SALE IN DURUM WHEAT DRAWS ATTENTION

Under the new list, open warehouse sales prices for domestic durum wheat were set between TRY 12,750–13,500 per ton depending on product code, while closed warehouse prices range from TRY 13,000–13,850 per ton.

In particular, the offering of 12,825 tons of low-grade durum wheat (code 1141) held in the stocks of the Sivas and Yozgat regional directorates at discounted prices of TRY 12,000 per ton (open warehouse) and TRY 12,250 per ton (closed warehouse) stands out as a notable development for the sector. This move indicates that TMO is pursuing a selective pricing policy in terms of stock management and regional supply balance.

A review of recent announcements shows that since the last quarter of 2025, durum wheat prices have largely fluctuated within the TRY 12,500–13,500 per ton band. The March list maintains this overall framework. This demonstrates that TMO continues its stability-oriented approach aimed at preventing sudden price fluctuations in the market.

PRICE BAND MAINTAINED IN BREAD WHEAT

Domestic bread wheat sales prices display a similar pattern. Open warehouse prices for white and red bread wheat were announced in the range of TRY 13,250–13,500 per ton, while closed warehouse prices stand at TRY 13,600–13,850 per ton.

For low-grade bread wheat, the open warehouse price was set at TRY 12,750 per ton and the closed warehouse price at TRY 13,000 per ton.

Over the past four to five months, TMO has kept bread wheat prices within the same band through gradual and limited updates. This policy aims both to ensure raw material cost predictability for flour millers and to maintain market balance in the pre-harvest period.

LIMITED DIFFERENTIATION IN BARLEY PRICES

The open warehouse sales price for barley was announced at TRY 11,300 per ton, while the closed warehouse price for barley removed from ELÜS (Electronic Warehouse Receipt) trading outside the exchange was set at TRY 11,600 per ton.

On the barley side as well, the TRY 11,000–11,500 per ton band has been maintained in recent months, with differentiation based solely on warehouse type and sales channel. The stable course of barley prices, which are critical for the feed industry, limits sudden cost pressures on the livestock sector.

VAT AND HANDLING DETAILS

It was stated that all prices are exclusive of VAT and handling fees. No handling fee will be charged for open heap, maydü, and noda sales, while a handling fee of TRY 150 per ton will be applied for closed warehouses. It was emphasized that transportation surcharges are included in the price.

For approximately the past four to five months, TMO has been publishing sales lists in a similar format and within comparable price bands. The horizontal movement of prices—rather than sharp increases or decreases—indicates that the institution is focused on preserving its market regulatory role, ensuring cost predictability for the flour and pasta industries, and managing supply-demand balance ahead of the harvest period.

Particularly amid the volatile trend observed in global grain markets since late 2025, the controlled management of domestic prices enhances planning capability for industrial users.

A CRITICAL PRE-HARVEST PERIOD

The March price list is significant as it was announced just a few months before the new harvest season. In this period, TMO is expected to continue balancing the market through stock management, regional discounted sales, and product-based differentiation.

While the current pricing policy sends a message of stability in terms of cost projections for the flour, pasta, and feed industries, the potential intervention procurement prices to be announced with the new harvest are also expected to be decisive in shaping market direction.