News

U.S. soybean supply and use changes for 2017/18 include higher crush, lower exports, and increased ending stocks compared with last month’s report. Soybean crush is raised 10 million bushels to 1,960 million with increased soybean meal exports. Soybean exports are reduced 35 million bushels to 2,065 million with increased production and exports for Brazil. Soybean stocks are projected at 555 million bushels, up 25 million from last month. With increased crush, soybean oil production is raised. An increase in food use is more than offset by lower biodiesel use, leaving domestic disappearance lower this month. Lower biodiesel use reflects lower-than-expected soy oil-based biodiesel production through the first quarter of the marketing year. With increased production and lower use, soybean oil stocks are forecast higher. The season-average soybean price range forecast of $9.00 to $9.60 per bushel is unchanged at the midpoint. Soybean oil prices are forecast at 30 to 33 cents per pound, down 1 cent at the midpoint. Soybean meal prices are projected at $325 to $355 per short ton, up $20.00 at the midpoint. Higher soybean meal prices reflect the impact of sharply lower soybean production in Argentina. Global oilseed production for 2017/18 is projected at 574.5 million tons, down 4.1 million from last month. Argentina soybean production is forecast at 47.0 million tons, down 7.0 million from last month mainly due to lower projected yields resulting from dry conditions through much of the growing region in January and February. Brazil soybean production is raised 1.0 million tons to 113.0 million, reflecting the most recent report from the Brazilian government. Global rapeseed production is projected at 73.9 million tons, up 0.9 million with larger crops for China and Australia partly offset with a smaller crop projected for India. Other changes include higher sunflower seed production for China and Kazakhstan, lower sunflower seed production for Russia, and higher cottonseed production for Sudan. Global oilseed trade for 2017/18 is reduced 1.2 million tons mainly on lower soybean exports. Lower soybean exports forecast for Argentina, the United States, and Uruguay are only partly offset with a higher projection for Brazil. Global soybean crush is raised with higher crush projected for Brazil and the United States partly offset by lower crush in Argentina. Global soybean ending stocks are projected at 94.4 million tons, down 3.7 million from last month. Reduced soybean stocks in Argentina and Brazil are only partly offset by an increase for the United States.