November 13, 2007

Australia's 07 rapeseed crop estimated at 953,000 tonnes

Production from a rapeseed crop to be harvested by year-end will reach 953,000 tonnes, down 10 percent from an estimate a month ago, but well up from a drought-affected harvest in 2006 of 512,000 tonnes, the Australian Oilseeds Federation forecast Tuesday (November 13, 2007).

While a drought this year was not as deep or broad as the one in 2006, rapeseed production in 2007 won't reach three-fifths of a federation estimate in August of 1.66 million tonnes before dry weather set in, wasting crops, particularly in southeast Australia.

"No real benefit will be seen for rapeseed from the good rainfall in the past two weeks through much of southern New South Wales," the federation said in a monthly crop report.

Although a downturn in production is expected across much of Victoria, the outlook for crops in the southern half of the state is "relatively positive," it said.

In Western Australia state, which will account for about half of 2007 production, the harvest is one-third done, with good oil content reported in a range 42 percent to 43 percent, it said.

The federation's estimate is up a little from a national forecast of 909,000 tonnes issued Oct. 30 by the government's Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics.

Australia's annual domestic rapeseed demand has averaged 430,000 tonnes in recent years, while exports have averaged 980,000 tonnes a year over the same period, but figures vary each year.

The federation represents the interests of industry participants across the supply chain, including growers, processors, traders and marketers.