Corn: Strongly advancing on EU markets; losing grounds on non-EU ones
March 2, 2018 at 11:39 AM ,
Starry Night Ltd.
BULGARIA. Before the sudden, recent shift in weather conditions, resulting in deep snow cover throughout the whole country, overall the moisture in fields had been ample; indeed, more than enough in some regions, according to local farmers. The recent snowfall, reaching as much as 50 cm in areas within the North regions of the country will further infuse moisture in the different soil layers.
Corn: exports to the EU on the rise; those to non-EU countries record a dip
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, by the end of last week, shipped quantities to EU markets reached close to 650 tmt, which on a year-to-year basis is by 12.44% higher than exported quantities to the same market destination from last year. The higher quality characteristics of the grains from harvest 2017-18, backed-up by competitive local prices, has made it possible for exports to skyrocket since early in the season; although the upbeat trend was stalled during several periods, as if reflective of lower prevailing prices.
Harvest 2017-18 (01.09.2017 - 23.02.2018) units in MT |
|
Beginning availability |
580,000 |
Aggregate output |
2,315,387 |
Imports |
10,460 |
Domestic consumption |
630,000 |
food & industrial usage |
240,000 |
Feed |
390,000 |
Exports to the world |
766,400 |
to EU markets |
649,857 |
to rest of the world |
116,543 |
Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture
As it has been for other locally grown grains such as wheat, barley and rapeseed during the current marketing season, corn exports to non-EU markets have substantially suffered on an yearly basis. By the 23rd of the February 2018, shipped volumes to such destinations reached 116,543 mt or by 24% lower than those of last year the same time. It is not the potential of local intermediary market players to export – the country realized a higher output during harvest 2017-18; no, it is competitive market forces within the Black sea basin that exert pressure on exports to markets outside the EU.