The third edition of EuroGrain Exchange, held on April 10–11, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Bucharest, concluded with monumental success. Bringing together over 500 participants from 34 countries across 4 continents, the event gathered voices from 300+ companies, including farmers, traders, processors, analysts and other agroindustry professionals. The two-day event was a dynamic convergence of ideas, collaborations and insights that will undoubtedly shape the grain and oilseed sectors in the months to come.
At a time when the grain industry is navigating complex dynamics such as geopolitical tensions, trade wars, changing trade routes, climate uncertainties, and volatile markets, EuroGrain2025 provided a vital platform for open dialogue. A strong opening statement by industry associations and officials highlighted the significance of the event, as Alex Michailidis from S.E.E.D.Y.Z. Greek grain association, stated “Such an event was lacking from the area, and it’s now well-established".
The event conference part featured discussion panels and presentations rich in data, insights, and thought-provoking perspectives, led by prominent figures across the industry. The first panel, “Central and Eastern Europe, Balkans, and the Black Sea – The Biggest European Supplier of Food,” set the tone for the event, showcasing six of the biggest exporting nations from CBV and POC. Highlights included discussions on Romania and Hungary's production prospects as farmers face financial challenges, Bulgaria’s competitive pressure due to rising input costs, Poland’s shift to deep-sea export strategies, and Serbia’s evolving grain flows. A standout moment came from Christina Serebriakova’s animated presentation, Ukraine’s Grain Export Movie, which humorously depicted geopolitical complexities affecting grain exports, leaving attendees both entertained and informed.
The second panel, “Buyer’s perspective of market situation. Turkey and Iberian Peninsula”, switched the focus from the producers to the processors in Europe and importers from Spain, Portugal, North Africa and Turkey, addressing evolving buyer demand and volatile market conditions. “I have never seen so many changes happen so fast in my long career ,” shared Nikolay Belchev (Expur/Avril), stating that while trade wars create massive volatility, there is also opportunity for oilseed crushers. A lively discussion among panelists and audience formed around toxins in corn and potential solutions to trade, including legislative changes to increase allowed toxin levels in EU regulations. Iberia’s price-sensitive grain demand was put forth, while cautioning that feed demand may fall in the long term, as competitiveness of meat producers decrease. Turkey's potential as a corn and sorghum market amid US-China trade tensions was discussed, featuring two prominent experts, Semir Özgentürk (Bunge) and Güneş Birgen (Rotel), while Egypt's reliance on wheat and corn imports was addressed, despite self-sufficiency ambitions.
The panel “Grain Markets, Black Sea, and Balkans. Macro Picture,” focused on the challenges in the grain markets, with Florin Bratucu (COFCO) pointing out logistics concerns with the Danube waterway and issues like high land competition and tight profit margins due to the still ongoing war. Christina Cionga highlighted FAPPR’s dedication to EU values and supporting farmers. Furthermore, panelists discussed the evolution of grain quality in Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania in recent years, while putting focus on the prospects for the new crops in the Black Sea region, how Chicago market trends are influencing Euronext prices, and the Turkish demand supporting Ukrainian corn exports. Finally, Regenerative agriculture and the carbon markets were presented as viable solutions to climate changes and additional steps for higher profitability for farmers in the region.
Beyond thought-provoking panels and presentations, EuroGrain Exchange comes as a powerful networking platform, fueling a growing community of industry leaders and professionals. Both the dedicated forum area and the exhibition zone, filled with innovative companies from the industry, were buzzing with excitement, as attendees described EuroGrain2025 as an environment filled with trust, collaboration, and genuine connections. Many participants left with new partnerships formed, fresh ideas for tackling challenges and moving the industry forward.
EuroGrain Exchange has cemented itself as a premier platform for addressing the complexities of grain trade. Its ability to unite diverse voices ensures that event conversations lead to real-world actions, reshaping the agribusiness landscape on the Balkans, Danube region, Black Sea, Europe and beyond.