May 22, 2013

China's new rapeseed crop expected to enter the market earlier

China's rapeseed harvest started 5-10 days earlier in 2013, which will likely lead to new crop entering the market one week earlier compared to 2012, according to China Cereals and Oilseed Information Network.

Harvesting has started in major growing areas including Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Jiangsu, and Henan. Harvest is more than 50% complete in China's top rapeseed growing province Hubei, and 80% complete in the second largest rapeseed producer Hunan.

The new crop has also shown better quality than that of 2012. Most of the rapeseed areas have not been affected by crop diseases. Rapeseed oil content is reportedly at 37% in Hubei and 37-38% in Sichuan.  

China's rapeseed production is forecast to rise 0.7% to 14.1 million metric tonnes in 2013, according to the forecast by China National Grain and Oils Information Centre (CNGOIC).