CGC inspects 12.2 million tonnes of exports in first quarter of current crop year, which is second largest in past 10 years
China remains the largest market for Canadian grains, oilseeds and pulses, according to recent monthly data from the Canadian Grain Commission.
The total exports of the five major crops for the first quarter of the crop year totalled 3.39 million tonnes. This is slightly higher than the first quarter of the 2022-23 crop year but is 17 per cent ahead of last year’s pace.
The key driver has been record exports of canola in the first quarter of the crop year.
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China purchased just over 20 million tonnes of wheat, corn, barley and sorghum last year, that is well below the 60 million tonnes purchased in 2021-22.
Canola exports to China in October were 886,900 tonnes, which pushed quarterly exports to a record 2.29 million tonnes. Canola exports in October were primarily to China with Japan the second largest customer, which was the destination for 155,700 tonnes.
The low prices for Canadian canola is also driving exports to Europe with October shipments increasing to 106,800 tonnes.
Closer to home, canola exports to Mexico increased to 79,100 during October.
Barley exports to China for the first quarter of the crop year are close to average at 441,500 tonnes. This is up slightly (4,800 tonnes) from last year at this time.
Barley exports are usually strongest to China during the first half of the marketing year because of competition from Australian barley.
Shipments to Japan totalled 49,400 tonnes during the first quarter of the current crop year.
Wheat exports to China have been weak with a total of 211,900 tonnes shipped during the first quarter. This is the slowest pace of wheat shipments to China since the 2016-17 crop year.
Wheat shipments to China were 56,200 tonnes during October, which is essentially the quantity held by one Panamax vessel.
Wheat exports in October were led by 178,500 tonnes to Spain.
Japan leads the wheat export shipments for the first quarter at 497,800 tonnes. This is the strongest pace of wheat exports to Japan since the 2020-21 crop year.
Durum exports during the first quarter of the crop year are strong at 916,800 tonnes, which is the strongest durum export pace since the 2020-21 crop year.
Durum exports to Italy were very strong during October with a total of 236,100 tonnes shipped. This brought the year-to-date total to 263,600 tonnes for Italy, which leads all durum importers. The second most important customer for Canadian durum during the first quarter of the crop year was Morocco, which received 227,900 tonnes.
Canadian exports inspected by the Canadian Grain Commission totalled 12.2 million tonnes for the first quarter, which is the second largest in the past 10 years. The largest total was set in the 2020-21 crop year when 13.5 million tonnes were shipped.
Strong exports so far this year are good news for western Canadian farmers. It is an indication that there is strong demand for Canadian grains, oilseeds and pulses this year.
