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Rapeseed: Shipments abroad at a pause

September 5, 2017 at 8:29 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
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Regional competition influences local export activities. The stronger euro adds to the pressure.

SOFIA. When exports slow down, a red flag is drawn. Rapeseed is the only locally grown crop that is mainly export oriented, with the great majority of shipments abroad going to EU member countries. A case in point, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, during season 2016-17, the country exported 505,371 mt of 612,994 mt total availability, as aggregate production last year stood at 509,251 mt; the rest was carry-over of 70,000 mt and some imports in the amount of 33,743 mt.

Rapeseed: exports lag behind on a yearly basis

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the 1st of September 2017, the country exported 189,026 mt of rapeseed, as close to 89% went to EU member countries. The majority of rapeseed usually goes to Belgium, Germany and France among others. However, so far in the marketing season, exports lag on a year-to-year basis. By the 2nd of September 2016, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country shipped 258,689 mt abroad.

Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 01.09.2017)

Carry over

25,000 mt

Domestic output

458,005 mt

Domestic consumption

14,400 mt

Exports to the world

189,026 mt

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

Looking over marine exports, via Varna seaport, by the 27th of August 2017, ships uploaded only 65,082 mt of the crop; the exported volumes of rapeseed lagged by 54.6% on a yearly basis. Via Burgas seaport no exports of the crop were registered by that time.

The slowing down of exports is expected to further exert pressure on local prices. Competition in the region will become even stronger because of Ukrainian bumper crop this season.

Rapeseed, Bulgaria

Crop

EUR/kg

rapeseed

0.348

EXW Bulgaria

 

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