ICE weekly outlook: Less canola to be exported

Crop expectations from Canada, Australia are factors

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Published: December 8, 2022

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ICE January 2023 canola with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

MarketsFarm — Any hopes of Canada exporting 9.3 million tonnes of canola during 2022-23 have now been dashed for two reasons.

One reason is the latest Statistics Canada production report that cut canola production for the current marketing year. The other is the bumper canola crop Australia is now expected to have this year.

StatCan’s survey-based production report, issued Friday, cut canola production from the 19.1 million estimated by the federal agency’s modelling and satellite reports, down to 18.17 million.

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Ahead of the latest StatCan report, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) projected 2022-23 canola exports at 9.3 million tonnes, jumping 76.5 per cent from the previous year.

“That 9.3 million tonnes becomes 8.3 million immediately,” said Bruce Burnett, MarketsFarm’s director of markets and weather.

He noted AAFC estimated total domestic use of canola at 10.27 million tonnes, up 8.2 per cent from 2021-22. He said canola crushing plants throughout Canada are set to run at maximum capacity, “so the crush number from AAFC probably looks a little light.”

The Australian Bureau Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) recently issued its December production report, which called for a four per cent increase to that country’s canola production at 7.3 million tonnes — which would be a new record.

Ken Ball, broker with PI Financial in Winnipeg, suggested that with such a bumper crop, Australia’s canola exports are to push to six million tonnes. He said the country averages 2.5 million to 2.7 million tonnes in annual canola exports, but with last year’s record crop, overseas shipments hit 4.8 million.

“Six million tonnes is going to put a dent in our exports,” Ball said.

He pegged Canada’s canola exports likely being no more than 7.5 million, probably somewhat less.

However, Ball cautioned, “It’s a long year yet and that could change.”

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

About the author

Glen Hallick

Glen Hallick

Reporter

Glen Hallick grew up in rural Manitoba near Starbuck, where his family farmed. Glen has a degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba and studied creative communications at Red River College. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Glen was an award-winning reporter and editor with several community newspapers and group editor for the Interlake Publishing Group. Glen is an avid history buff and enjoys following politics.

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