March 3, 2005

 

Brazil soybean crush slows to 1.36 million tonnes in January

 

 

Brazilian crushers processed 1.36 million tonnes of soybeans in January, down from 1.80 million tonnes the month before, in the last month before the harvest starts in the world's No. 2 soy-producing country, according to industry figures published Monday.

 

Brazil processed 25.87 million tonnes of beans in the 2004-05 season (February-January), much lower than the estimate of 29.2 million tonnes for the period, said Brazilian Vegetable Oil Industries Association, or Abiove.

 

Soybean acquisitions fell to 1.14 million tonnes in January, down from 1.30 million tonnes in December, while soybean industry exports totaled 131,000 tonnes, down from 149,000 tonnes shipped the month before.

 

The figures were based on a survey of Abiove members and encompass 88  per cent to 90  per cent of total crushing capacity.

 

Brazil monthly soy statistics (figures expressed in millions of tonnes):

 

SOYBEAN                    December   January    Feb-Jan

Carryover Stocks           1.98          1.18

Soybean Purchases        1.30          1.14         37.53

Crushing                       1.80           1.36        25.87

Industry Exports            0.15           0.13         9.96

End Stocks                    1.78           0.70

 

SOYMEAL

Carryover Stocks           1.27          0.89

Production                     1.37          1.04        19.87

Exports                         1.11           0.68       13.28

Domestic Consumption   0.67           0.57        6.84

End Stocks                    0.89           0.69