Price Assessment

US Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles price assessments

  • What are the US Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) assessments?
  • How do Platts assess the Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) market?
  • Why are these prices important?
  • Platts US Dried Distiller Grains (DDGS) Market Commentary
  • Platts US Dried Distiller Grains (DDGS) Daily Rationale
  • Platts US Dried Distiller Grains (DDGS) Daily Price Heards

What are the US Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) assessments?

In April 2015, S&P Global Commodity Insights launched two Platts price assessments for US Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) to reflect the primary domestic and export markets for this key animal feed ingredient:

— DDGS FOB Chicago (truck)

— DDGS CIF New Orleans (barge)

They are USD per short ton daily flat price assessments; the FOB Chicago price reflects trucks delivered to the Channahon, Illinois, railhead, the CIF New Orleans price reflects barges delivered to the New Orleans/Mississippi River port zone.

Assessments reflect export quality DDGS, protein content minimum of 25%, the minimum color of 50 (according to the Hunter L test), a fat minimum of 6%, and a moisture level in the range of 10% to 12%, standardized to 11.5%.

How do Platts assess the Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) market?

Platts assessments are based on robust and transparent market data that includes but is not limited to, firm bids and offers, expressions of interest to trade, and confirmed trades reported across the trading day.

The FOB Chicago assessment reflects delivered trucks on a calendar month basis. Platts assesses delivery in the current month until the 21st of that month, when the assessment rolls to delivery over the next calendar month. If the 21st day of the current month should fall on a public holiday or weekend, the roll to next month will take place on the business day immediately after the 21st day of the month.

The FOB New Orleans barge assessment reflects barges that have loaded over any period in the current month of the date of publication. Platts rolls to assess delivery from barges that have loaded over the next calendar month on the 25th of the current month. If the 25th day of the current month should fall on a public holiday or weekend, the roll to next month will take place on the business day immediately after the 25th day of the month.


For full assessment details please refer to the Platts global grain and oilseed specification guide >

Why are these prices important?

A robust and transparent physical price representing the specific dynamics of regional markets can lead to physical indexation and financially settled derivative instruments which is a powerful tool to help customers and other market participants:

— Manage and hedge price risks us

— Leverage arbitrage opportunities

— Carry out negotiations more profitably and efficiently

— Make better-informed planning and trading decisions



What other supporting information does Platts publish?


The daily DDGS prices are accompanied by a daily market commentary and rationale

In addition, Platts publishes month average DDGS prices. Platts also assesses and publishes:

• Global ethanol prices including the US, Europe and Brazil benchmarks

• US PNW and NOLA corn prices

• Ethanol cash margin

• Corn arbitrage matrix

• Latin America soybean meal prices

• Biofuels and grains analytics

• Used cooking oil and tallow feedstock prices

• Global biodiesel (methyl ester) prices

Platts US Dried Distiller Grains (DDGS) Market Commentary

  • Corn slides with export data
  • Chicago market shifts lower



The US dried distiller grains with solubles export market was softer on May 16, with falling bids leading values lower.

The Chicago board of Trade July corn futures contract closed the session 5.5 cents/bushel lower at $4.57/bu. Corn futures had little fresh news to provide price support and worked lower following weaker export sales data.

Weekly US corn net old crop export sales were reported at 742,000 mt for the week ended May 9, down 17% from the week-ago volume, according to US Department of Agriculture data.

At the start of the week, when corn prices were testing recent highs, the DDGS export market saw thin offer availability. Following three days of lower corn values, DDGS traders have reported a lack of firm demand in the market. DDGS trucks delivered into the Chicago market had bid-offer spreads shift $4/st lower, with no firm demand heard for the nearby May delivery period. Volume for DDGS delivered into Chicago for forward months was heard trading $2/st down from previous levels.

Platts US Dried Distiller Grains (DDGS) Daily Rationale

Platts assessed CIF New Orleans dried distillers grains with solubles barges for May shipment unchanged at $198/st for May 16 based on market indications and no firm bid or offers for May shipment available by the close.

The FOB Chicago DDGS market for May truck delivery was assessed $2/st lower at $178/st based on a weaker market sentiment and a $2/st decline heard for forward delivery periods.

Platts is part of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

This rationale applies to symbol(s) <ACDDG00> <AADDG00>

Platts US Dried Distiller Grains (DDGS) Daily Price Heards

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Oct-Dec,Offer,$188/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Oct-Dec,Offer,$189/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jan-Mar,Bid,$182/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jun-Sep,Offer,$178/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jun-Sep,Bid,$174/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jan-Mar,Offer,$193/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jul-Sep,Offer,$182/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jun-Jul,Trade,$176/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Oct-Dec,Bid,$182/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Oct-Dec,Bid,$180/st,Trucks

16 May 2024 — HEARD: CIF-NOLA 34-5 Profat spec,US,Jun-Sep,Bid,$192/st,Barges

16 May 2024 — HEARD: CIF-NOLA 34-5 Profat spec,US,Jun-Sep,Offer,$197/st,Barges

16 May 2024 — HEARD: CIF-NOLA 34-5 Profat spec,US,Jul-Sep,Offer,$194/st,Barges

16 May 2024 — HEARD: CIF-NOLA 34-5 Profat spec,US,Oct-Dec,Bid,$198/st,Barges

16 May 2024 — HEARD: CIF-NOLA 34-5 Profat spec,US,Jul-Sep,Bid,$192/st,Barges

16 May 2024 — HEARD: CIF-NOLA 34-5 Profat spec,US,Oct-Dec,Offer,$206/st,Barges

15 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jan-Mar,Bid,$186/st,Trucks

15 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,May,Offer,$184/st,Trucks

15 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Jul-Sep,Offer,$182/st,Trucks

15 May 2024 — HEARD: Dlvd Chicago,US,Oct-Dec,Offer,$191/st,Trucks