Canadian canola exports are still moving at a steady pace, although the lack of shipments to China will likely put the 2010-11 export program below the previous year.
The latest Canadian Grain Commission statistics show Canada had exported 3.254 million tonnes of canola as of Jan. 17, exactly in line with the exports at the same point the previous year.
“There seems to be pretty steady demand,” said Lach Coburn, west coast manager with Cargill Ltd.
According to Coburn, Mexico is taking more canola than had originally been anticipated, while more vessels are also destined for Dubai. (The business to Dubai is likely ‘toll crushing’ with the oil destined for China, he said).
While China may be bringing in canola oil via Dubai, the country has not imported any canola seed from Canada since new import restrictions went into effect on Nov. 15, 2009. Canada exported 2.8 million tonnes of canola to China in 2008-09, and it was expected China would be a big customer again in 2009-10.
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