Tunisia Wheat Tender Anchors Mediterranean Prices at $311–314/tonne C&F

Tunisia's state grains agency has purchased approximately 125,000 tonnes of soft wheat at $311.72–314.23 per tonne C&F, establishing a benchmark for Mediterranean import prices and signalling firm near-term demand from a structurally deficit North African buyer, according to CMB News.

The shipment window runs from 1 October to 15 December, covering a period of active exports from both Black Sea and European origins. CMB News reported that the purchase range aligns with current offer levels from 11–12% protein origins, leaving sellers with limited room for aggressive discounting at prevailing freight and risk levels.

Alongside the wheat transaction, Tunisia also purchased 75,000 tonnes of feed barley at $304.23–307.62/tonne C&F. CMB News noted that the narrow spread between soft wheat and feed barley "underscores strong feed demand and limits the downside pressure on lower-quality wheats that might otherwise be pushed into feed channels."

Cash market prices across key export origins were broadly stable as of 24 September 2026. Ukrainian wheat with a minimum 11.50% protein was quoted at EUR 0.16/kg FCA Kyiv and EUR 0.17/kg FCA Odesa, while 9.50% protein wheat held at EUR 0.15/kg FCA Kyiv and EUR 0.16/kg FCA Odesa, all described as unchanged on the day. German feed wheat EXW Drentwede was indicated at EUR 0.245/kg, reflecting what CMB News described as "modest firmness in EU feed values." French 11.00% protein wheat FOB Paris was quoted at EUR 0.31/kg, down from EUR 0.33/kg earlier in the month, though CMB News described this as still consistent with a firm Mediterranean flat price.

On the supply side, CMB News described physical fundamentals as "balanced rather than burdensome," pointing to stable Ukrainian inland and FOB prices since mid-September and only marginal softening in French FOB levels as evidence that export pipelines are active but not under pressure. Competition between Black Sea and EU suppliers for Tunisian and other MENA business remains intense, the source said, but neither side appeared willing to discount aggressively.

CMB News said the Tunisian purchase absorbs part of the import program of the North African country ahead of winter, reducing nearby spot availability and supporting replacement values for other buyers in the MENA region. The outlet added that the tender values are likely to act as a reference point for forthcoming tenders from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and other regional importers, which could further tighten exportable surpluses if multiple tenders cluster in the fourth quarter.

On futures markets, CMB News noted that Euronext and CBOT wheat contracts were consolidating after recent volatility, a factor it identified as consistent with the steadiness seen in physical market quotations.

Weather across major exporting regions was not expected to trigger immediate supply shocks in the near term, the source said, with Northern Hemisphere harvest largely complete and fieldwork shifting to winter wheat sowing. CMB News characterised logistics, freight and geopolitical risk as the primary drivers of short-term price direction rather than crop-weather developments.