March 3, 2015

World rapeseed output to fall for first time in five years: council

World rapeseed output will fall for the first time in five years, led by a particularly sharp fall in production in the European Union, the top grower, the International Grains Council said.

The council, in its first forecast for world rapeseed output in 2015-16, pegged it at 68.9 million tonnes, a drop of 3.8% year-on-year.

The forecast also estimated an 11.7% tumble in output in the European Union from last year's record high, with production this time pegged at 21.2 million tonnes.

"Crops are generally developing well in most areas, including in France," the IGC said.

"However, a mild autumn and an earlier ban on neonicotinoid insecticides led to fast plant growth and high levels of pest damage in some parts, notably in Germany and the UK."

Some crops were also "still vulnerable to frost damage", although "little winterkill has been observed thus far".

The German crop, recently the EU's biggest, was seen tumbling 19.3% to five million tonnes, on a 6.4% drop in sowings.

While France is projected to retake top spot in the EU with a 5.1 million-tonne harvest, that is still a decline of 7.6% year-on-year, on a 1% drop in sowings.