HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) — Rain in Germany may spoil an otherwise positive picture for European Union winter rapeseed seeding after bad weather significantly hurt this year’s crop.
“It looks like the problem with German rain threatening EU rapeseed supplies will not end with this year’s terrible German rapeseed crop,” one trader said.
“Unless the weather really dries up fast, smaller German sowings could also threaten the EU’s 2012 crop.”
Rain is delaying seeding in Germany, normally the EU’s largest producer of the crop.
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However, seeding is progressing well in number two producer France and number three producer Britain.
Germany’s farm ministry has confirmed a major failure of the country’s 2011 rapeseed crop.
The winter rapeseed harvest will fall 31.3 percent on the year to 3.9 million tonnes after crops were hammered by a cold winter, spring drought and summer rain.
The ministry said Germany would need more imports in the coming year.
Ukraine is expected to be a major supplier to the EU in the coming year after exporting 90 percent of its 2010 rapeseed harvest. Major sales to Germany are likely.
The Ukrainian farm ministry said farmers have completed the 2011 rapeseed crop, harvesting 1.4 million tonnes, which is little changed from 1.47 million tonnes in 2010.
