Wheat: Stepping up shipped volumes to EU markets

January 10, 2018 at 9:48 AM , Starry Night Ltd.
Play report as audio

SOFIA. Entering into 2018, the country went over 3.0 mmt of exports. The upbeat export trend, supported by high quality characteristics of grains, might well push prices higher soon.

Wheat: the robust export rate to EU markets is slipping over into 2018

BULGARIA. By the 5th of January 2018, local exporters shipped to the world 3,043,485 mt, which represents a share of 51.58% of aggregate output from harvest 2017-18. The majority of sent quantities (86.39%) abroad went to EU countries while the remaining volumes were shipped to the rest of the world. During the last marketing season, local market players really made it big since exports, which came to 73.62% of total output, were never so high. However, during the current season, they seem to be even in a more advantageous position. By the very beginning of 2017, the country managed to export 2,007,549 mt to EU countries while by the 5th of January 2018, shipments to the same destinations reached 2,629,289 mt, or by close to 31% more.

       Harvest 2017-18

(01.07.2017 - 05.01.2018)

           units in MT

Beginning availability

179,000

Aggregate output

5,900,000

Imports

46,358

Domestic consumption

968,000

   food

512,000

   feed

258,000

   seeds

180,000

   industrial usage

18,000

Exports to the world

3,043,485

   to EU markets

2,629,289

   to rest of the world

414,196

Source: Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture

Who fears the regional behemoths?

Local market sentiments do not underestimate the export potential of big regional players such as Russia and Ukraine within the Black sea basin, but demand for locally grown wheat by EU member states, especially by those whose harvests suffered because of adverse weather conditions, is expected to keep its momentum strong. The characteristics of this year’s wheat are much better than those of the previous season, which means that quality of the crop is not an issue at all. And, although Russia has extended its strong grip on the export front so far -- most probably, it will become the largest exporter of wheat for the current season, -- local market players seem in no hurry to massively unload their reserves. They do not fear a bearish trend down the road. Instead, they seem quite confident about their EU destinations’ export potential. Indeed, prices of high quality wheat might well find support in the unquenched international demand, and the trend seems far from reversing.

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Organic Commodities
Nov 12, 2024
ASUNCIÓN. As yields dropped to shockingly low levels for chia seeds in South America, the new season started off with a shock for the market. Silver lining is that things may change in December.
Grains
Oct 31, 2024
DALIAN/KYIV. Smaller acreages are causing a significant drop in production in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU was able to increase its total imports by 12% thanks to increased shipments from Kazakhstan.
Grains
Oct 30, 2024
DALIAN/KYIV. The new crop is causing prices to fall in China. In Ukraine, the average yield per hectare of the 2024 millet crop has fallen by 18% compared to last year.
Grains
Oct 17, 2024
LIMA. Favourable weather conditions and larger acreages led to an increase in quinoa production in Peru this year. In some regions, the crop was 85-90% larger than last year.