Soybean exports found 10.4 million bushels in old crop sales last week, plus another 8.3 million bushels of new crop sales, for a total of 18.6 million bushels. That was moderately lower than both the prior week’s total of 23.2 million bushels as well as trade estimates of 25.7 million bushels. The weekly rate needed to reach USDA forecasts still eased lower, to 15.9 million bushels. Soybean export shipments reached 24.0 million bushels last week, which was 39% ahead of the prior week and 30% above the four-week average. China regained its No. 1 position, with 4.8 million bushels, followed closely by the Netherlands, Egypt, Mexico and Indonesia.
Vietnam boosted rapeseed meal purchases from Ukraine
Monthly rapeseed meal exports from Ukraine are at a near-minimum level since November 2017. Ukraine exported 1 KMT of rape meal in March 2018 against 0.5 KMT in February 2018 and 1.2 KMT in March 2017. A total 64.5 KMT was supplied to foreign markets in July-March 2017/18, i.e. 16% less than at the same time a year ago (54.1 KMT). The top importer of Ukrainian rape meal is the European Union, which absorbs 78% of total exports from Ukraine. The second largest importer is Israel (9%). Traders exported 95.219 KMT of rapeseed to an amount of USD 41.368 Ml and imported 232 MT of the commodity valued at USD 1.009 Ml. At the time, soybean exports totaled 1028.776 KMT to an amount of USD 388.473 Ml. The commodity’s imports were at 1.849 KMT to an amount of USD 1.779 Ml.