Rapeseed: Shipments abroad at a pause
September 5, 2017 at 8:29 AM ,
Starry Night Ltd.
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 |