Brazil's soybean exports are expected to decline in 2002

Introduction: according to safras e Mercado, Brazil's local agricultural consulting agency, Brazil's soybean exports in 2002 were lower than expected due to increased local demand for soybean meal and oil Safras currently expects Brazil to export 16.5 million tons of soybeans in 2002, up 5% from last year's 15.7 million tons, but well below the 17.5 million tons predicted in May Safras's weekly newspaper said demand for Brazilian soybean products in the international market was stronger than previously expected Therefore, the soybean meal export in 2002 is expected to be 11.9 million tons, higher than the 11.3 million tons predicted in the previous report, 6% higher than the 11.26 million tons in the previous year Soybean oil exports are expected to be 1.78 million tons, up from 1.63 million tons last year If the current demand situation is maintained in the current year, the soybean crushing is expected to reach 24.4 million tons Official data from the Brazilian government also showed a significant decline in soybean exports According to the data of Brazil's Ministry of foreign trade, Brazil's soybean export from February to May was 3.7 million tons, 33% lower than 5.5 million tons in the same period last year From February to may, Brazilian soybean meal exports also decreased to 2.3 million tons, a 28% decrease over the same period last year Farmers in Rio Grande, south of the country, are slow to sell, safras said, adding that China's soybean import orders have fallen, resulting in lower soybean exports But safras suspects that the government's data is inaccurate and that the real data should be higher Safras said the reason for the low export statistics was related to the strike in Brazilian ports In order to avoid bureaucratic delays, many exporters delayed the registration of shipments A well-informed person in the industry predicted that there might be 6 million tons of soybeans and 3.4 million tons of soybean oil already shipped In May, safras expects soybean production to be 41.48 million tons in 2001 / 02, up 6.6% from 38.9 million tons last year.