June 2008 oilcrops market assessment NEW!
The rise in international prices of oilseeds and oilseeds products has accelerated in 2007/08, with values climbing to new record levels in March 2008. The ongoing harvests in the southern hemisphere confirm that, in 2007/08, world markets for oilseed products are tightening considerably. Reduced supply growth for oils and a drop in meal supplies are coinciding with further expansion in demand. With production falling short of demand, strong cutbacks in seed, meal and oil inventories are unavoidable, and global stock-to-use ratios for oils, and in particular meals, are seen falling to critically low levels in 2007/08. First forecasts for the 2008/09 season point towards a strong recovery in global oilseed production, as high prices should stimulate plantings. The resulting oil and meal output should be sufficient to meet global demand, and therefore prices for oilseeds and derived products could stabilize and possibly weaken in the coming months. However, considering that there would be only a partial recovery in stock levels and in stock-to-use ratios, in particular regarding oilmeals, prices should remain well above the values recorded one year ago. [ more... ] | 
