Mustard seeds: flea bugs damage Canadian crop

June 18, 2024 at 4:49 PM , Der AUDITOR
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OTTAWA/KYIV. Experts are expecting a decline in acreage in Canada. However, favourable weather conditions have benefited yields so far, but there are also reports of damage caused by flea bugs.

Acreages partially reseeded

With the implementation of increased import duties on Russian mustard seeds and other agricultural products in the EU, supplies from Canada could become more relevant for the European market again. For the 2024/2025 season, however, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada expects the area under cultivation in Canada to decrease by 7.6% to 232,000 ha. If good weather conditions prevail until the harvest, the experts are confident and estimate yields at 0.78 mt/ha – this would not only be an increase of 14.7% compared to the previous year, but could also compensate for the cultivation deficit. Production would thus have the potential to increase by 5.3% to 180,000 mt. At 267,000 mt, a total of around 20.3% more mustard seeds would be available on the Canadian market than in the current 2023/2024 season.

Experts at Rayglen Commodities report that the mustard seed fields in the main growing areas in Saskatchewan are benefiting from the recent abundant rainfall, the crop is sufficiently moisturised and at the end of the month 30% of the crop was in excellent condition and 60% in good condition. At the beginning of June, however, there were reports of flea bugs, also known as earth fleas, on the oil plants. In the meantime, some areas had to be reseeded due to the damage caused.  

Mustard seeds, Canada

2022/23

2023/24

Diff.

2023/24

2024/25

Diff.

Area sown (ha)

225,000

258,000

14.7%

258,000

240,000

-7.0%

Area harvested (ha)

219,000

251,000

14.6%

251,000

232,000

-7.6%

Yield (mt/ha)

0.74

0.68

-8.1%

0,68

0,78

14.7%

Production (mt)

162,000

171,000

5.6%

171,000

180,000

5.3%

Imports (mt)

11,000

12,000

9.1%

12,000

7,000

-41.7%

Total supplies (mt)

189,000

222,000

17.5%

222,000

267,000

20.3%

Exports (mt)

110,000

100,000

-9.1%

100,000

110,000

10.0%

Domestic consumption (mt)

40,000

42,000

5.0%

42,000

42,000

0.0%

Carry-over stocks (mt)

40,000

80,000

100.0%

80,000

115,000

43.8%

Avg price in CAD/mt

2,140

1,300

-39.3%

1,300

930

-28.5%

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Massive increase in shipments from Ukraine

Between September 2023 and April 2024, Germany imported a total of 33,948 mt of mustard seeds, a decrease of 5.7% compared to the same period last year. Shipments from Canada fell significantly this season by 59.1% to 4,521 mt and imports from countries such as Poland (-7.7% to 1,419 mt), the Czech Republic (-70.4% to 790 mt) and Kazakhstan (-71.1% to 138 mt) also declined. At the same time, shipments from Russia (+10.6% to 16,741 mt) and Ukraine in particular (+170.6% to 9,961 mt) increased significantly year-on-year.

Ukrainian mustard seeds, Sinapis Alba, 99.5% purity, are currently being traded on the European spot market for EUR 0.67/kg FCA Poland, while Brassica Nigra of the same purity is being offered at EUR 0.94/kg FCA.

Mustard seed* imports, Germany, in mt

Supplier

2022/23

2023/24

Diff.

Russia

15,141

16,741

10.6%

Ukraine

3,681

9,961

170.6%

Canada

11,060

4,521

-59.1%

Poland

1,537

1,419

-7.7%

Czech Republic

2,669

790

-70.4%

Estonia

692

165

-76.2%

Kazakhstan

477

138

-71.1%

Slovakia

72

37

-48.6%

Austria

441

15

-96.6%

Others

236

161

-31.8%

Total

36,006

33,948

-5.7%

Federal Statistical Office of Germany / Sep-Apr

*12075090 Mustard seeds, whether or not broken (excl. for sowing)

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