OILSEEDS: Total U.S. oilseed production for 2017/18 is projected at 132.0 million tons, down 0.2 million from last month due to lower soybean, peanut, and cottonseed production. Soybean production is forecast at 4,425 million bushels, down 5 million due to a fractionally lower yield. With use unchanged, soybean ending stocks are projected at 425 million bushels.
Prices for soybeans and soybean meal are raised this month. The U.S. season-average soybean price is projected at $9.30 per bushel, up 10 cents at the midpoint. The soybean meal price is projected at $295 to $335 per short ton, up 5 dollars on both ends of the range. The soybean oil price projection is unchanged at 32.5 to 36.5 cents per pound.
The foreign oilseed supply and demand forecasts for 2017/18 include higher production, exports, and stocks compared to last month. Foreign production is forecast at 446.7 million tons, up 2.0 million with higher soybean, peanut, cottonseed, and rapeseed partly offset by lower sunflowerseed. Soybean production for Brazil is increased 1 million tons to 108 million on higher reported area for Parana and Rio Grande do Sul. Peanut production is increased for India on higher yields for the state of Gujarat. Sunflowerseed production is lower for Ukraine, Argentina, and South Africa. Major foreign soybean trade changes for 2017/18 include higher exports for Brazil and Paraguay, with increased soybean imports for China. Foreign soybean ending stocks for 2017/18 are up from last month, mostly reflecting increases for China, Argentina, and Brazil.