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Trade and markets
 

Oilcrops

 

Price indices for oilcrops and derived products
The indices are derived from a trade-weighted average of a selection of representative internationally traded products. Please note that in November 2013 some modifications have been introduced to the way the indices are calculated ; for details and to access the series of indices along with commentary on latest price developments click here.

Oilcrops, oils and meals market assessment - October 2014
 Summary : The current outlook for the 2014/15 marketing season points to a further improvement in the global supply and demand balance for oilseeds and derived products. Global oilseed output is forecast to exceed last season’s record due to further expanding of soybean production. Thanks to record plantings and near-ideal growing conditions, the United States is set to harvest another bumper soybean crop, while further gains in planted area seem likely in South America, considering that relative prices continue to favour soybeans over maize. For oilseedsother than soybeans, a contraction in output is possible. Palm oil production should keep growing, but at a below average rate. Record soybean crops will likely result in another conspicuous increase in world supplies of meals/cakes in 2014/15, whereas global oils/fats could grow less than last season. As global meal output is anticipated to outpace world  utilization, a conspicuous build-up in stocks is expected. For oils/fats, global output should basically match utilization, precluding significant stock changes. Based on current forecasts, the stock-to-use ratio for meals/cakes is poised to rise strongly, whereas that for oils/fats should remain about unchanged. The present outlook suggests that there is scope for international meal prices to ease further during 2014/15, thus extending the recently commenced descending trend and abandoning the high levels recorded since mid-2012. Additional downward pressure is likely to come from record global feedgrain supplies. As for the oils/fats market, a balanced supply and demand situation and stable stock-to-use ratios  point to a stabilization in prices around their current relatively low level. International trade in oilseeds and derived products is forecast to expand further in 2014/15, although less strongly than last season. The anticipated slowdown reflects ample domestic supplies, stemming in part from large carry-in stocks in a number of significant importing countries, including China and the EU. It also reflects limited export availabilities arising from poor crops, higher domestic utilization or the need to re-build stocks in several exporting nations, notably the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil. Read full document


The Oilcrops Monthly Price and Policy Update (MPPU) is a new information product provided by the oilseeds desk of the Trade and Markets Division. As a complement to our bi-annual market reports, this brief note follows two purposes: first, to review the development of international prices for oilseeds, oils and meals as reflected by FAO’s specific price indices and second, to spot recent policy and market events - selected from a variety of sources - that are deemed important for the global oilseed economy. The brief shall be issued in the second week of each month, for a total of 10 issues per year. The note, which will be available in English only, will be posted on this web page as well as sent to subscribers of the Oilcrops Market Network.


Oilcrops Market Network - Free subscription!
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See dedicated page: oilcrops market network.


OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook: Oilseed Projections 2013-2022 
Highlights: (i) Assuming normal yields in all producing regions, world production of oilseeds should rebound in marketing years 2013 and 2014 resulting in a sharp reduction of international oilseeds and products prices. After this correction, prices are expected to increase slowly based on strong food and fuel demands of vegetable oil and a solid feed demand for protein meal. (ii) Relative profitability of oilseeds versus coarse grains is expected to favour the distribution of land toward oilseeds and lead to a 26% increase in world production when combined with yield gains. With 93% of global exports in 2022, the Americas should confirm their role as the oilseeds basket of the world. China is expected to further solidify its position as the leading oilseeds importer but its share of world oilseeds crush is expected to stabilise at 25% of world total. (iii) After a period of over-proportional growth in palm oil production, its share in total oilseed oil output is projected to stabilise at around one third of the total vegetable oil production. World vegetable oil production remains very concentrated in the coming decade as growth originates in the main producing regions. Demand for food remains strong based on income and population growths, fuel uses are supported by consumption mandates. (iv) Global protein meal output is projected to increase by 25% or 67 Mt. Two-thirds should come from four countries: Argentina, Brazil, China and the United States. Compared to the past decade, consumption growth of protein meal slows down significantly reflecting both slower absolute growth in global livestock production and slower growth in the relative use of protein meal in feed rations, signalling a less rapid structural transformation process in the livestock sector in the coming decade.
» Outlook chapter on oilseeds, oils and meals
See also:
»Outlook chapter on biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel) 

Oilcrops

Oil crops include both annual (usually called oilseeds) and perennial plants whose seeds, fruits or nuts are either consumed directly as food or crushed to obtain oil (used by the food, oleochemical, biofuel and other industries) as well as protein-rich meal (used as feed in the livestock sector).

Some of the crops included are also fibre crops in that both the seeds and the fibres are harvested from the same plant. Such crops include coconuts, kapok fruit, cotton, linseed and hempseed.