Long-term prospects for rapeseed production in Bulgaria are doubtful
In the current 2017/18 season, a rape acreage decrease (-8.5%) and a yield drop (-4%) in Bulgaria have slashed its rapeseed crop by almost 10%. As the bulk of Bulgarian rapeseed comes to the export market in the first months of season, over 97% of its 2017/18 exportable stocks were shipped abroad by mid-December. Bulgarian rapeseed still enjoys keen demand from European countries. However, this season’s rapeseed production rise in key EU growers along with active Ukrainian supplies to the European market will be the main factors to reduce Bulgarian exports by 16.3%. The 2017/18 volume of domestic rapeseed crushing will remain at last season’s level.
According to the European Commission’s report, rapeseed will lose its leadership among oilseeds in the EU within the coming decade. Taking these forecasts into consideration, rapeseed cultivation in Bulgaria will follow a downward trend in the long run, but this does not rule out the possibility of single more successful seasons owing to current factors.
Full version of the article is available to subscribers for weekly market report “Black Sea Vegoils” and “Online market review” by UkrAgroConsult.
