Canadian Grain Commission data for June exports indicated strong but slowing shipments of the major Canadian grain, oilseed and pulse crops.
Wheat and canola remain the largest exports with wheat continuing at a record pace and canola remaining the third largest on record.
With one month left in the crop year, Canadian exports continued to shine in a tariff-clouded world.
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The primary destination for Canadian grain, oilseeds and pulses remained China, but exports to the Middle Kingdom did decline in June.
Total exports to China during the month were 456,700 tonnes, which was down by 207,100 tonnes from May.
June exports to China were the smallest since December, when only 345,400 tonnes were shipped.
The decline in June shipments is primarily due to seasonal factors, with Chinese wheat and rapeseed harvests nearly complete.
Crop year-to-date exports to China remain strong at 9.24 million tonnes, which is slightly higher than the 10-year average exports of 8.9 million tonnes.
Exports this crop year are led by canola, which reached 4.57 million tonnes.
Wheat exports to China so far in 2024-25 have reached 1.78 million tonnes with only one month remaining in the crop year.
Chinese barley imports from Canada totalled 1.02 million tonnes during the crop year to the end of June.
Although wheat exports to China have declined from the 2023-24 crop year, many other countries have more than made up for the losses.
The Western Hemisphere wheat exports from Canada increased by 750,800 tonnes from last year. The main increases in the region were to the United States, Peru and Ecuador.
African wheat exports increased by 372,600 tonnes from the previous year, while European countries imported an additional 506,400 tonnes.
Asian wheat exports dropped by 819,700 tonnes on the back of the 1.14 million tonne drop in Chinese exports from last year.
These losses were partially counterbalanced by an increase of 388,100 tonnes in exports to the Philippines. Vietnam also increased imports of Canadian wheat by 210,200 tonnes so far this year.
Wheat exports are still on pace to set a new record this crop year, thanks to the diversified nature of Canadian wheat exports. A drop in Asian exports is more than made up for by increases in other regions of the globe.
Canola exports remained strong and were 2.82 million tonnes ahead of last year at the end of June. The bulk of the exports this year have been to China, but the year-on-year change in Chinese imports to the end of June was only up by 93,200 tonnes over last year.
The main increase in canola exports this year was to Europe, which is up by 1.06 million tonnes from last year. Japanese imports are also up sharply at 1.59 million tonnes to the end of June, which is up by 808,400 tonnes from last year.
Any way you slice it, Canadian grain and oilseed exports have been strong in 2024-25. Although the June exports have slowed, the 2024-25 crop year will go into the books as a record year for wheat and a very strong one for canola.
