Rising gas costs and falling prices complicate corn harvest in Poland

Corn harvesting in Poland is becoming increasingly difficult due to a sharp decline in purchase prices, rising gas costs and limited grain drying capacity. Over the past week, wet corn prices fell by an average of PLN 47 per ton, while dry corn prices declined by PLN 15 per ton. At some purchasing facilities, wet corn prices dropped by as much as PLN 100 per ton. Meanwhile, some grain elevators have been forced to limit purchases or temporarily suspend grain intake due to disruptions in gas supplies and a shortage of available capacity.

One of the main factors behind the deteriorating situation has been falling export prices. During the week, dry corn prices at Polish ports declined from PLN 1,050–1,060 to PLN 970–990 per ton. In northern Poland, purchase prices for wet corn stood at around PLN 500–520 per ton. At the same time, higher gas prices could increase corn drying costs by approximately PLN 40–50 per ton, depending on the initial moisture content. This is reducing profitability for both grain elevators and farmers.

In some regions, grain dryers are operating intermittently due to unstable fuel supplies. Certain facilities can dry grain for three days before shutting down for another two to three days while waiting for gas deliveries. However, conditions vary by region and equipment type, with some facilities using natural gas reporting no supply disruptions so far. Additional challenges include insufficient storage capacity, long queues for drying services and a shortage of trucks, which are needed to transport both corn and sugar beets during the harvest season.

High grain moisture content is also having a significant impact on production economics. Corn from earlier plantings is being harvested with moisture levels of around 28–30%, while later plantings show levels of 35–36%, exceeding 40% in some fields. In northern Poland, average corn moisture content is approximately 36%. As a result, grain buyers are applying substantial price deductions for moisture levels above their standard thresholds, reaching PLN 12–15 for each additional percentage point in some regions.

Amid abundant grain supplies and limited drying capacity, some Polish farmers are considering delaying corn harvesting to allow grain moisture levels to decline naturally in the field. Other farms are using plastic silo bags for temporary crop storage or attempting to spread sales across several batches. However, further decisions will depend on weather conditions, transport availability and the capacity of local grain elevators, as delaying the harvest during unfavorable weather could result in additional losses.

Tags: corn, Poland