March 28, 2008

China's rapeseed growth season halted by adverse weather

China's rapeseed growth period has been delayed due to weather disasters, the Ministry of Agriculture reported.

The growth of rapeseed was damaged by snow, freezing rain, low temperature and other weather disasters hitting the Yangtze River valley this year, and the growth period is postponed by 5-10 days as compared with that of the average year.

However, the entire weather condition in late February is favorable for rapeseed growth.

Rapeseed supply has now become tight, pushing oilseed and edible oil prices upward.

China's oilseed import increased in January, yet the edible oil import decreased.

The country imported 3.5 million tonnes of oilseeds in January, up 43 percent on-year.

The import of edible vegetable oil dropped by 9 percent in January to 562,000 tonnes.