The USDA forecast U.S. soybean oil exports in 2012-13 (Oct. 1-Sept. 30) at 1.8 billion lbs, up 600 million lbs, or 50%, from the September projection at 1.2 billion lbs and up 336 million lbs, or 23%, from 1.464 billion lbs in 2011-12. The USDA in its Oil Crops Outlook issued on Dec. 12 said, “In November, unusually large export sales of soybean oil have suddenly boosted U.S. trade prospects for that commodity. Importers in China were particularly active buyers this fall in the U.S. soybean oil market. Shipments to China for October-November already totaled 243 million lbs, more than for all of last year.”
The soybean oil export forecast for the current year compared with the recent five-year average exports number at 2.632 billion lbs and the record outgo of 3.359 billion lbs in 2009-10.
The USDA forecast U.S. soybean meal exports in 2012-13 at 8,200,000 tonnes, up 300,000 tonnes, or 4%, from the September projection but down 1,541,000 tonnes, or 16%, from 9,741,000 tonnes in 2011-12. In its Oils Crops Outlook commentary, the USDA attributed lower U.S. prices of soybean meal for the increase in its export forecast.
“These lower costs for soybean meal have stimulated more export sales this fall, particularly for the Philippines, the E.U.-27 and Turkey,” The USDA said. The forecast soybean meal outgo compared with the recent five-year average exports at 9,549,000 tonnes and record exports of 11,159,000 tonnes in 2009-10.
The USDA forecast U.S. soybean exports in 2012-13 at 1.345 billion bushels, unchanged from the November projection but down 17 million bushels from 2011-12. The recent five-year average soybean outgo was 1.36 billion bushels, and record U.S. soybean exports were achieved in 2010-11 at 1.501 billion bushels.
