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Bulgarian rapeseed: quietness before harvest

May 31, 2017 at 8:53 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
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The small remaining stocks seem not to scare foreign buyers since the upcoming harvest is approximately a few weeks away. Prices exhibit a downward trend, generally following a descending tendency since the beginning of the year. Eyes on the upcoming harvest.

 Rapeseed: the upcoming harvest is a few weeks away

SOFIA. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the 18th of May 2017, available plots for harvest stood at 166,201 ha, which is about 1.9% less than those available during the previous season. This year, fallen through acreages accounted to 19,966 ha because of damaging weather conditions during the winter and early spring. However, prospects for the upcoming harvest seem encouraging.

At that time of season, exports are rare and meager at best. By the 21.05.2017, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, exports via Varna seaport accounted to 216,457 mt, which is about 208.3% higher than those of the previous year via the same trade route. The high export figures (see the table below) and the relatively high prices of rapeseed have encouraged farmers to invest more in the cultivation of rapeseed plots. Farmers expect the new crop to be quickly exported as was the case with the crop from harvest 2016-17.

Harvest 2016-17

(beginning of harvest till 26.05.2017)

Carry over

70,000 mt

Domestic output

506,778 mt

Imports

33,743 mt

Domestic consumption

72,600 mt

Exports to the world

503,771 mt

   to EU countries

465,266 mt

   to the rest of the world

38,505 mt

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

 Confined to local trade, overall rapeseed exhibits a downward price trend

Since the beginning of the year, trade of rapeseed has mainly happened on the local market, which at best has been sluggish.  For about the same time period, prices have been following a downward trend, as deals have been realized at between 0.353 EUR/kg – 0.327 EUR/kg EXW Bulgaria. Prices are expected to remain on the ebb side rather than on the up side before the harvest begins. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the 26th of May 2017, remaining stocks amounted to 34,150 mt.

Rapeseed, Bulgaria

Crop

EUR/kg

rapeseed

0.343

EXW Bulgaria

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