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Rapeseed: Weaker exports on a yearly basis

November 3, 2017 at 2:17 PM , Starry Night Ltd.
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SOFIA. Intermittent foreign trade on the background of a lower aggregate output this year. Sowed acreages are expected to increase.

BULGARIA. During harvest 2017-18, the country realized a smaller aggregate output, with final estimates reaching as low as 459,002 mt or by close to 10% down from that of harvest 2016-17. Usually, rapeseed is one of the local grains enjoying high demand because the great majority of the crop is exported abroad. As a result, sowed acreages are expected to increase on an annual basis.

However, the lower output this year could be explained by adverse weather conditions before and during harvest in some regions, which influenced the quantities collected. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the 26th of October 2017, estimates of sowed acreages stood at 158,109 ha. An increase in planted acreages is expected.

Rapeseed: year-to-year weaker exports

A pictorial representation, which would best capture the intricacies of the export market and convey its trend, is one of a sine curve – steep peaks and deep lows. Yet, on a year-to-year basis, current season’s exports lag behind those of last year.

Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 27.10.2017)

Beg. availability, incl. carry over & imports

  510, 765 mt

Domestic consumption

27,200 mt

Exports to the world

352,561 mt

   to EU markets

331,265 mt

   to rest of the world

21,296 mt

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

A case in point: according to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the 27th of October 2017, the country exported 352,561 mt while by the 28th of October 2016, the country sent abroad 465,766 mt; the difference between both exported volumes stands at 24.31% in favor of season 2016-17. The change in total availability (aggregate output, imports and carry-over) for both years amounts to 14.09% in favor of last year, which stood at 594,548 mt.

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