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Rapeseed: Another season of a robust international demand

January 10, 2018 at 10:10 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
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SOFIA. Aggregate output placed a natural ceiling on exports. The majority of the crop gets swiftly shipped abroad.

BULGARIA. Exports’ opportunities for rapeseed have always been high. The majority of the crop is swiftly exported in the few months, following harvest, and since internal demand is limited to a few metric tons per week, imports represent a small share on an annual basis.

Rapeseed: another season of enjoyed strong demand. Yet, output is a natural curb of export potential

By the 5th of January 2018, the country exported 92.09% of its aggregate output (458,110 mt) from harvest 2017-18. There is no doubt among local market players, that had there been more quantities collected during harvest, more would have been exported. For comparison, at the beginning of 2017, the country had already shipped abroad 490,771 mt. Thus, the only time, export opportunities diminish is when available quantities dwindle because of either reduction in sowed acreages or adverse weather conditions literally plow through fields, or both. So, although last year exported quantities soared higher, this year, exports will be lower because of smaller quantities collected.

      Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 05.01.2018)

          units in MT

Beginning availability

25,000

Aggregate output

458,110

Imports

27,655

Domestic consumption

43,200

   oil & biodiesel production

43,200

Exports to the world

421,861

   to EU markets

388,365

   to rest of the world

33,496

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

Although Bulgaria is a dwarf producer and exporter of rapeseed, when compared to some other regional market players such as Ukraine or Romania, the quality factor has always been a strong motif for foreign buyers to purchase locally grown rapeseed. During harvest 2017-18, some farmers in the Northeast of the country - the so called Granary of Bulgaria, realized a crop with an oil content of 44.8%. Considering the overall production potential of the country, it has become customary by now, for intermediary market players to quickly execute their buyout campaigns, after harvests end, and start fulfilling their foreign contracts. Currently, the market’s supply potential has already been diminished.

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