Indian state firms to import edible oils-govt

Jul 31 2009 4:54PM

NEW DELHI, July 31 (Reuters) - Indian state-run trading firms will import edible oils for subsidised distribution, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said on Friday.

Government firms stopped importing edible oils last November after they imported about 360,000 tonnes as there was no demand from state governments after international prices fell.

"Yesterday we have taken a decision to allow state-owned public sector undertakings to import edible oil depending on demand from states," he told reporters on the sidelines of an awards function.

Indian sugar body investigates past deals-sources

Jul 31 2009 4:30PM

NEW DELHI, July 31 (Reuters) - The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) is investigating some three-year old derivatives market losses and planning to restructure, the recently-retired head of the body and industry sources said.

The investigation centres on hedging losses by the Indian Sugar Exim Corp (ISEC), which ISMA manages jointly with another trade body, sources said.

Two sources in ISMA's secretariat and two senior mill owners who are members of the trade body said that an accountancy firm had been appointed to investigate the matter and the trade body was also seeking legal advice.

S.L. Jain, who headed India's premier sugar body for more than two decades before stepping down this month, said there may have been some hedging losses in 2006, but they were relatively small, about 80-100 million rupees ($1.7-$2 million).

"I said yes, please investigate everything because now that I am going, nobody should point any finger at me. So let us go into this matter in depth," Jain told Reuters.

"I don't exactly remember now, some losses must have occured... On the other hand, in the physical, profits were much higher. It is a hedge operation. People don't understand what is hedging."

Jain said he has fond memories of his long stint at ISMA, which included his role in making India a player in the raw sugar trade, but had faced difficulties in the last few months.

"The atmosphere I found was not congenial to me. Everybody knows I'm a rather aggressive person. I take things into my hands," he said.

In recent months, ISMA has faced criticism in sections of the government, as official estimates of sugar stocks and supplies were higher than industry estimates.

Jain's well wishers say he had a vast network of contacts in industry and government, which he used to help local mills, while his critics say his style of operation was too centralised and he was blunt even in his dealings with some bureaucrats.

Vegoil prices:Solvent Extractors Assn,India Jul-30

Bangalore, Jul 30 (Reuters)- The following are the daily

Vegetable oil trade data supplied by Mumbai based The Solvent

Extractors' Association of India. I. OILSEEDS (Rs./M.T)

Ex-Mandi

1. Groundnut seed (Saurashtra) Crushing Quality 20800

2. Soyabean seed (Indore) 20600

3. Rape/Mustard seed (Rajasthan) 26100

4. Sunflower seed (Karn./Mah.) 24500

5. Castorseed (Gujarat) 24900

6.Sesameseed(white 98/2)(Saurashtra) 62000 II.

OILCAKES (Rs./ M.T.) O & A /S & S

1.Groundnut Exp. cake (Guj) 50/2.5 17700

2. Sunflowerseed Exp. cake(Mah/Karn)25/2.5 14400

3. Rapeseed Exp.cake (Rajasthan) 40/2.5 12400

III. RICE BRAN (Rs./M.T.)

1. Rice Bran Raw (16/5/8) Punjab 9300 IV.

EXTRACTIONS

(A) LOCAL EX-MILL (Rs./MT) O & A/S & S

1. Groundnut Ext. (Ex-Saurashtra)

45/2.5 16800

2. Rice Bran Ext. (Ex-Punjab) 16/5/8 5800

3. Kardi Ext.(Ex-Maharashtra) 20/2.5 NQ

4. Soya Ext.( Ex-Indore) 48/2.5 19700

5. Rapeseed Ext.(Ex-Rajasthan) 38/2.5 10300 6.

Sunflowerseed Ext.(Ex-Mah/Karn) 30/2.5 12500

(B) EXPORT (FAS) (US$ / MT)

1. Soyabean Ext(Bulk)Yellow (Ex-Kandla)48/2.5 395

2. Rapeseed Ext. (Bulk) (Ex-Kandla)38/2.5 228

3. Groundnut Ext. (Bulk) (Ex-Bedi) 45/2.5 NQ

4. Castormeal Ext. (Bulk)(Ex-Kandla) 77

5. Rice Bran Ext. (Bulk)(Ex-Kakinada) 16/3.5 150

(C) EXPORT (FOR) Ports (Rs./MT)

1. SoyabeanExt.(Bulk)Yellow(Ex-Kandla) 48/2.5 19800

2. Rapeseed Ext.(Bulk) (Ex-Kandla)38.2.5 10600

3. Groundnut Ext.(Bulk)(Ex-Bedi) 45/2.5 17200

4. Castormeal Ext(Bulk)(Ex-Kandla) 3800 V.

INTERNATIONAL OILS(US$/M.T)

1. RBD Palmolein FOB Malaysia/Indonesia 680

2. RBD Palmolein C&F Mumba 710

3. Crude Palm Oil(CPO) FOBIndonesia 610

4. Crude Palm Oil(CPO)C&F Mumbai 640

5. Soya Degum (Crude) CIF Mumbai 800

6. Sunflower Oil (Crude) CIF Mumbai 800

VI. LOCAL RATE FOR DOMESTIC & IMPORTED OILS

(A) Local Oils (Expeller) (Rs./M.t.) 1.

Groundnut Oil 62500 2.

Rapeseed Oil 48000 3.

Sunflower Oil 41000

4. KardiOil 68000

5. Linseed Oil 57500

6. Sesame Oil 61000

7. Washed Cottonseed Oil 40800

8. Castor Oil (Comm) 53000

9. Mahua Oil 37500

10. Karanja Oil 37500

(B) Imported Oils (Rs./M.T.)

1. RBDPalmolein 36500

2. CrudeDegummed Soybean Oil (Ex-Mumbai) 40200

3. Crude PalmOil (5%) (Ex-Kandla)) 32000

VII. SOLVENTEXTRACTED OILS (Rs./MT.)

1. SE Soyabean Oil(Indore) 39000

2. SE R.B. Oil (RG-I)

35500 3. SE R.B. Oil RG-II

(Industrial) 30500 4. SE Neem Oil

42500 VIII. REFINED OIL (Excl.ST)

(Rs./MT) 1. SE Refined Cottonseed Oil

43400 2. SE Refined Rapeseed Oil

51300 3. Refined Soyabean Oil

43500 4. Refined Rice Bran Oil (Punjab) 38500

5. Refined Sunflowerseed Oil 45000 6.

Refined Groundnut Oil 67000 IX. Non

Edible Oils 1. P. F. A. D.

- FOB Malaysia US$MT 450 2. P. F. A. D. - CIF

Kandla US$MT 475 3. P. F. A. D. - Ex-Factory

Kandla Rs./Tons 28500 4. Crude Palm Kernal Oil (5%)

660 Note: Rates are excluding VAT & Octroi

unless specified ((Bangalore Commodity Desk, +91-080 6677

3545,e-mail commodities@reuters.com)

India extends duty-free sugar imports past July 31

Jul 31 2009 12:14PM

NEW DELHI, July 31 (Reuters) - India has extended its scheme to allow duty-free raw and refined sugar imports beyond July 31, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told parliament on Friday.

India summer crop sowing over 50 pct of normal-govt

Jul 31 2009 12:19PM

NEW DELHI, July 31 (Reuters) - India's summer-sown crops such as sugarcane, oilseeds and cotton have covered more than half the normal area, and sowing is likely to rise, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told parliament on Friday.

He also said weak monsoon rains would have a marginal impact on inflation.

SOFTS-Raw sugar hits 3-yr high on India outlook,

Jul 30 2009 9:23PM

* Brazilian prompt physical sugar seen at a discount

* India sugar mill chief S.L. Jain retires

(Adds trade comment, updates prices)

By Sharon Lindores

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - Raw sugar futures hit 3-year peaks on Thursday on investor buying boosted by expected demand in India, while ICE cocoa jumped close to Tuesday's 11-month highs aided by a weaker dollar and brought London up with it.

Coffee futures consolidated in modest volumes, traders said.

India is expected to import up to 5 million tonnes of sugar in 2009/10 due to strong domestic demand and sharply lower output, merchant Sucden Financial said earlier this week in its quarterly market report. [ID:nLS115975]

Sugar futures have risen on a perception that India will need to import the sweetener heavily into next year and due to a weather-delayed harvest in the key centre-south of Brazil, the world's top grower.

"The market's done remarkably well," David Sadler, a senior sugar dealer in London, said of the recent rally.

Sadler said he was a bit surprised by sugar's strength.

"If you look at the Indian situation, it still doesn't pay you to take sugar in there (to India). You'll lose money because the internal prices are still not that high," Sadler said.

He said India had a shortage as not much sugar was sowed and output was down in 2008/09. By the end of August India would have imported about 2 million tonnes and there was the potential to import more, but it was a question of how much and when.

"I think there's an awful lot of speculation in sugar and that is a concern because I just don't see the physical demand at the moment."

However, Sadler said he was optimistic sugar prices would go higher in the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter 2010.

New York's October raw sugar futures edged up 0.26 cent to 18.82 cents per lb at 1451 GMT, having earlier touched a three-year high of 18.91 cents per lb.

Raw sugar prices hit a 25-year peak of 19.73 cents in February 2006. A rally beyond 20 cents would be the highest on the monthly charts for sugar in 28 years.

London's front month white sugar contract went up $8.00 to $494.00 per tonne, having touched a three-year peak of $494.50 earlier.

S.L. Jain, a leading figure in the global sugar industry, said on Thursday he had retired as director-general of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and added that a successor had not yet been appointed.

WRAPUP 1-India monsoon dips again, reservoirs swell

Jul 30 2009 7:26PM

* Monsoon dips after 2 weeks of above-normal rains

* Water in reservoirs higher than yr ago, 10-year average

* Rainfall weak in corn regions, mixed in sugarcane area

By Ratnajyoti Dutta

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - India's monsoon rains were 18 percent below normal in the week to July 29, the weather office said on Thursday, renewing fears of deficient crops after rainfall had been above normal for the previous two weeks.

Total rainfall in the country since the beginning of June was 19 percent below average, pulled down by the driest June in 83 years, data from the India Meteorological Department showed.

But water levels in India's 81 main reservoirs rose to 35 percent of capacity in the week to July 30, up from 23 percent a week earlier and 31 percent a year ago, government data showed.

Water in reservoirs also exceeded the 10-year average for end-July, easing worries of a shortfall in hydropower and concerns that winter-sown wheat and rapeseed may not get adequate irrigation.

Rains in the past week were below normal in the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where corn is grown, while in Uttar Pradesh, the leading cane producer, rains were scant in the eastern part but normal in its western districts.

The poor rains could delay harvest of summer-sown crops.

FORECAST

The weather office has forecast rains in many parts of Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring rice-growing regions in the next three days, but from Aug. 2 rain is forecast only in eastern and northeastern regions.

"Drought-like situation exists in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," a farm ministry official told Reuters.

Sowing of most crops would be close to last year's level, while area under lentils and coarse grains would increase, said the official, who did not want to be identified.

He said rice crop would suffer, although the government would try to maximise the productivity of the crop that survived the dry patch.

"We will take about one more week to arrive at a proper assessment based on-ground realities," the official said.

The June-September rains are the main source of irrigation for Indian farms, and are crucial for Asia's third-largest economy.

For a factbox on impact of monsoons on Indian crops, see [ID:nDEL401846]. For full monsoon coverage see [ID:nMONSOON].

The weather department said all 36 weather zones received rains during the week to July 29, but the weekly rainfall was deficient to scanty in 19 zones.

The data showed rainfall was 1 percent above normal in India's central region, the main soybean producing belt, while the rains over the cane and paddy growing northwest region were still 32.5 percent below normal.

"The rains were good for the standing crop, but the follow-up rains would be more important for the crop's growth," said an official of the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India.

India has sold about 77,000 tonnes of soymeal from the new crop to South Korea for November and December shipments. See [ID:nSP529809]

Earlier this week, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar said India's sugarcane area had contracted to 4.27 million hectares from 4.38 million hectares a year ago as a prolonged dry spell, mainly in the top cane-producing state of Uttar Pradesh, hurt the crop

Indian water reservoirs level goes up in July 30 wk

Jul 30 2009 6:11PM

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - Water levels in India's main reservoirs rose to 35 percent of capacity in the week to July 30, up from 23 percent a week earlier, government data showed.

A year ago, water levels in India's 81 main reservoirs were at 31 percent of total capacity, the data showed. The latest water reservoir level was also higher than the 10-year average.

More water in reservoirs will boost the supply of hydropower, which accounts for a quarter of India's total generation capacity, and help irrigate crops even after the monsoon season.

INTERVIEW-UPDATE 2-India sugar mill chief S.L. Jain retires

Jul 30 2009 5:20PM

* Mills association ISMA seen searching for successor

* Jain led ISMA for many years, was key industry figure

(Adds quotes, background)

By David Brough

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - S.L. Jain, a leading figure in the global sugar industry, said on Thursday he had retired as director-general of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) and added that a successor had not yet been appointed.

India is a pivotal player in the world sugar market because it is the number 1 consuming country and number 2 producer after Brazil, and this year swung to net importer from exporter after a poor domestic harvest.

India's strong appetite for sugar has helped drive up sugar futures prices sharply this year, and analysts are now anticipating a substantial Indian import demand into next year after a weak and erratic monsoon.

"I have retired, not resigned, because I have reached the retirement age," Jain told Reuters by telephone from India.

He said that his retirement took effect nearly a month ago.

Asked whether a successor had been appointed, he said, "Not yet. I think they (ISMA) have to look for somebody."

Jain led the Indian Sugar Mills Association for many years and was a regular speaker at sugar conferences around the world.

Jain's speeches at conferences and his comments in panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions were closely scrutinised by the sugar trade because of the importance of India in the global industry.

Jain said he had not yet decided on any future plans in the sugar industry.

"I have not yet decided what to do," he said

India soybean, soyoil end up on import duty hopes

Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:54pm IST

MUMBAI, July 30 (Reuters) - Indian soybean futures recovered from new lows and ended up on Thursday as expectations government may re-impose edible oil import duty in September triggered short-covering and fresh buying, analysts said.

Soyoil futures also ended up on duty expectations.

The recovery in soybean and soyoil was helped by a firm Malaysian palm and on report India has signed its first new-crop soymeal export deals, but gains were limited tracking large-scale sowing in July, raising expectations of better supplies.

September soybean contract NSBU9 on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange recovered after falling to a new low of 2,151 rupees per 100 kg. The contract has fallen 6.5 percent in last five sessions.

"Edible oils prices have come down in last two-three months and we have good inventory. Chances are government will re-impose duty on edible oil imports," Badruddin Khan, senior research analyst, Angel Commodities Broking Pvt Ltd, said.

Last year, government had scrapped duty on edible oil imports in an effort to lower prices and raise supplies.

The benchmark October palm oil futures KPOc3 on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange ended at 2,145 ringgit a tonne, up 1.51 percent.

However, large-scale sowing and weak spot weighed on the markets.

Soybean spot prices in central city of Indore was down 1.7 percent at 20,600 rupees per tonne, while soyoil prices fell 0.71 percent at 42,000 rupees per 10 kg.

The total acreage of soybean, the main summer-sown oilseed, is likely to be steady compared to last year.

Following are the closing prices of soybean futures <0#nsb:> in rupees per 100 kg, rapeseed futures <0#nrs:> in rupees per 20 and soyoil futures <0#nso:> in rupees per 10 kg, on the NCDEX

India releases 1.67 mln T non-levy sugar for August

Jul 30 2009 3:58PM

MUMBAI, July 30 (Reuters) - India has released 1.67 million tonnes of non-levy sugar for August, up 12 percent compared to the previous month as the country is heading towards the festive season, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Non-levy, or free sale sugar, is sold by millers in the open market, but the quantity each mill can sell is fixed by the federal government on a monthly basis.

The government has released 1.377 million tonnes as normal non-levy sugar quota and estimates supplies of 133,000 tonnes from dismantled buffer stock and 160,000 tonnes from imports, taking supplies to 1.67 million tonnes.

"The quota is enough to cater the August demand. July quota is not completely sold. So unsold quantity from July quota will also enter into the market in next two weeks," Ashok Jain, president of the Bombay Sugar Merchants Association, said.

Besides, government has released 185,000 tonnes of levy sugar.

Traders forecast a 45 percent drop in India's sugar output to 14.7 million tonnes in the crop year to September.

India's sugar output in 2009/10 is expected to reach 17.5-18.5 million tonnes, lower than the previously estimated 20 million tonnes, on delay in progress of monsoon, a senior industry official said on Wednesday.

India monsoon 18 pct below normal in July 29 week

Jul 30 2009 4:06PM

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - India's monsoon rains were 18 percent below normal in the week to July 29, having been above normal for the previous two weeks.

Total rainfall since the beginning of June was 19 percent below average, the India Meteorological Department said on Thursday.

India monsoon rains 1 pct above normal in soy belt

Jul 30 2009 4:26PM


NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - India's monsoon rains up to July 29 were 1 percent above normal in the central region of the country, India's main soybean producing area, weather office data showed on Thursday.

The four-month long annual monsoon season runs from the beginning of June.

UPDATE 1-India kicks off soymeal export season, sells 77,000 T

Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:53pm IST Email | Print | Share | Single Page [-] Text [+]
* India kicks off new soymeal export season

* Sells 77,000 T to South Korea in 2 deals

* More deals likely as Indian meal competitive (Recasts with quotes, details)

By Naveen Thukral

SINGAPORE, July 30 (Reuters) - India has started its new-crop soymeal marketing season with sale of around 77,000 tonnes to South Korea and more deals are likely on competitive offers from the South Asian nation. One deal of around 47,000 tonnes was signed this week, while 30,000 tonnes was contracted late last week for November and December shipments, regional traders said on Thursday.

"South Korea always buys early and more deals should happen as Indian meal is cheaper than South American meal," said a Singapore-based trading manager with an international trading company.

Indian soymeal was traded between $410 and $415 a tonne, including cost and freight to South Korea compared with meal from Latin America quoted around $420 and $425 C&F.

Traders said there was talk that India had sold another 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes of meal to buyers in Southeast Asia which could not be confirmed.

Indian traders, confirming the South Korean deals, said there was strong interest in Indian soymeal from other destinations such as Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.

"During the last one week some soymeal export deals have taken place and there is good interest from Japan and other Southeast Asian countries," said an Indore-based exporter.

India's soymeal export deals come at a time when traders are expecting a delay of at least two weeks in soybean arrivals on slow progress of the annual monsoon rains. Indian soymeal normally reaches buyers in Southeast Asia by mid-October.

Last month's scanty rains raised concerns that India's soybean output might get hit, but the government data showed oilseed sowing rose to almost last year's levels after the rains revived in the second week of July.

For the week ending July 17, India's oilseed area stood at 10.7 million hectares against 11.0 million hectares a year earlier, farm ministry data showed.

"If this year's crop size is around 9.5 million tonnes, then these are good deals," said a Mumbai-based trader with a global company, referring to South Korean purchases. "We need to see what would be the crop size".

India produced 17.9 million tonnes of summer-sown oilseed crops in 2008 with soybean contributing 55 percent of the total output.

"The standing soybean crop is in good condition. But rains in August and September would be extremely crucial for a healthy growth," said another trader from Indore, India's soybean hub in the central state of Madhya Pradesh.

India's soymeal exports in the year ending September 2009 may fall 35 percent to 3.2 million tonnes on a lower crush and sluggish overseas demand. The export sales were also subdued as farmers held back stocks in the face of lower prices.

Nagpur Soybean, Soyoil, Soymeal Open-July 30

Jul 30 2009 2:00PM

Nagpur, July 30 (Reuters) - Rapeseed oil prices tumbled in the Vidarbha

region of Western Mahasrashtra on account of ample supply against slackness in

demand. Increased arrivals from producing belts amid fall in demand mainly

pulled down prices. Fresh fall in international oil and subdued trend on Madhya

Pradesh oil market also affected sentiment in thin trading activity, sources

said Thursday

* * * *

VIDARBHA MARKETS

OILS

* Weak trend in Soyabean oil continued in Vidarbha on lack of demand from

local traders amid profit-taking selling by stockists at higher level.

Sharp fall in Madhya Pradesh soyabean oil also affected sentiment.

* Cottonseed, Groundnut loose, Groundnut refined, Sunflower

refined, Linseed, Castor and Coconut KP oil prices ruled steady

on subdued demand from retailers as well as bulk consumers.

* Traders expect further fall in Soyabean oil in Vidarbha.

SOYMEAL

* Prices today reported down on lack of demand from traders amid release of

stock from stockists. Even though Chicago soymeal prices recovered by

about five dollar per tonne, no trader was in mood for any commitment.

SOYABEAN

* Soyabean prices in the Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing Committee

(APMC) showed weak tendency on lack of demand from local crushing plants.

Further fall in soyabean oil, easy condition in soymeal and downward

trend in Madhya Pradesh soya prices also said to be the reasons for

affecting morale of crushing plants.

* High moisture content (about 15 per cent) soya was available at Rs 18,200

per tonne in Nagpur.

* About 1,200 bags reported for auction in major soya mandi in Vidarbha,

sources said Thursday.

UPDATE 1-India sells 77,000 T soymeal in 1st new-crop deals

Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:32pm IST

* India kicks off new soymeal export season

* Sells 77,000 T to South Korea in 2 deals

* More deals likely as Indian meal competitive (Adds details, quotes)

SINGAPORE, July 30 (Reuters) - India has signed its first new-crop soymeal export deals, selling around 77,000 tonnes to South Korea for November and December shipments, regional traders said on Thursday.

Indian soymeal was traded between $410 and $415 a tonne, including cost and freight (C&F) to South Korea.

"South Korea always buys early and more deals should happen as Indian meal is cheaper than South American meal," said a Singapore-based trading manager with an international trading company. Traders said soymeal from South America was quoted around $420 and $425 C&F to South Korea.

Another trader said one deal of around 47,000 tonnes was signed this week and 30,000 tonnes was sold late last week.

Traders said there was talk that India had sold around 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes of buyers in Southeast Asia which could not be confirmed.

Indian soymeal, which reaches buyers in Southeast Asia by mid-October, will likely be delayed by at least two weeks on slow progress of the annual monsoon rains.

Last month's scanty rains raised concerns that India's soybean output might get hit, but the government data showed oilseed sowing rose to almost last year's levels after the rains revived in the second week of July.

For the week ending July 17, India's oilseed area stood at 10.7 million hectares against 11.0 million hectares a year earlier, farm ministry data showed.

India produced 17.9 million tonnes of summer-sown oilseed crops in 2008 with soybean contributing 55 percent of the total output.

India's soymeal exports in the year ending September 2009 may fall 35 percent to 3.2 million tonnes on a lower crush and sluggish overseas demand. The export sales were also subdued as farmers held back stocks in the face of lower prices.

Madhya Pradesh soybean crosses 5.08 mln ha target

Jul 30 2009 12:14PM

BHOPAL, July 30 (Reuters) - Soybean sowing in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has crossed the government-set target of 5.08 million hectares, raising hopes of a better output, a top official told Reuters.

The area sown has crossed 5.10 million hectares till July 25 this year, up from 4.99 million hectares in the same period last year.

Total sowing so far is a tad lower than 5.12 million hectares in the previous year.

"Soybean sowing has exceeded target and the crop condition is normal," said D. N. Sharma, director, state agriculture department.

The state is the top producer of soybean, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the major oilseed production in the country.

Sowing gathered pace in the state following rains in July. Soybean was sown in 3.5 million hectares as on July 9.

Oilseed is usually sown between last week of June to July 15, but this year farmers have gone for late-sowing as well due to delayed rains.

Madhya Pradesh soybean crosses 5.08 mln ha target

Jul 30 2009 12:14PM

BHOPAL, July 30 (Reuters) - Soybean sowing in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has crossed the government-set target of 5.08 million hectares, raising hopes of a better output, a top official told Reuters.

The area sown has crossed 5.10 million hectares till July 25 this year, up from 4.99 million hectares in the same period last year.

Total sowing so far is a tad lower than 5.12 million hectares in the previous year.

"Soybean sowing has exceeded target and the crop condition is normal," said D. N. Sharma, director, state agriculture department.

The state is the top producer of soybean, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the major oilseed production in the country.

Sowing gathered pace in the state following rains in July. Soybean was sown in 3.5 million hectares as on July 9.

Oilseed is usually sown between last week of June to July 15, but this year farmers have gone for late-sowing as well due to delayed rains.

India may ask state-run firms to import veg oil-paper

Jul 30 2009 11:10AM

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - India's cabinet is likely to approve on Thursday a move to allow state-run trading firms to import vegetable oil for subsidised sale to the poor, the Financial Express newspaper said.

India was planning to sell subsidised imported oil to keep a lid on inflation after patchy monsoon rains, the paper said on Thursday, citing an unnamed official.

Last year, the government had asked State Trading Corp of India Ltd , MMTC Ltd and PEC Ltd to buy one million tonnes of oil, but they imported only about 300,000 tonnes as state governments, which sell the oil to the poor, did not want any imported oil after prices fell.

India, a leading vegetable oil importer, buys palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia and soyoil from Brazil and Argentina. (

India wheat seen up on lower grain output fear

Jul 30 2009 9:36AM

MUMBAI, July 30 (Reuters) - Indian wheat futures may trade slightly higher on Thursday on expectation of higher demand driven by a drop in rice sowing, though soaring stocks and an export ban may limit gains, analysts said.

The August futures contract on National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange ended almost steady at 1,118.6 rupees per 100 kg on Wednesday.

Farm Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said rice sowing was likely to be affected more than other crops. He said rice sowing fell to 15.57 million hectares from 21.6 million hectares because of weak monsoon rains. See [ID:nBNG493693]

Lower rice output will increase the focus on wheat as an alternative grain resource for India, analysts said.

India will not export any wheat or rice through diplomatic arrangements, Pawar told reporters last week. See [ID:nDEB000803]

The government may sell a part of its bulging wheat stocks in the local market, Pawar said, which weighed on domestic prices.

Wheat stocks stood at 36 million tonnes as on July 1, more than double the required buffer norm of 17 million tonnes.

Vegoil prices:Solvent Extractors Assn,India Jul-29

Jul 29 2009 6:22PM

Bangalore, Jul 29 (Reuters)- The following are the daily Vegetable oil trade

data supplied by Mumbai based The Solvent Extractors' Association of India.

I. OILSEEDS (Rs./M.T) Ex-Mandi

1. Groundnut seed (Saurashtra) Crushing Quality 20900

2. Soyabean seed (Indore) 20500

3. Rape/Mustard seed (Rajasthan) 26200

4. Sunflower seed (Karn./Mah.) 24500

5. Castorseed (Gujarat) 25000

6. Sesameseed(white 98/2)(Saurashtra) 62000

II. OILCAKES (Rs./ M.T.) O & A /S & S

1. Groundnut Exp. cake (Guj) 50/2.5 17800

2. Sunflowerseed Exp. cake(Mah/Karn)25/2.5 14000

3. Rapeseed Exp.cake (Rajasthan) 40/2.5 12200

III. RICE BRAN (Rs./M.T.)

1. Rice Bran Raw (16/5/8) Punjab 9300

IV. EXTRACTIONS

(A) LOCAL EX-MILL (Rs./MT) O & A/S & S

1. Groundnut Ext. (Ex-Saurashtra) 45/2.5 16900

2. Rice Bran Ext. (Ex-Punjab) 16/5/8 5800

3. Kardi Ext.(Ex-Maharashtra) 20/2.5 NQ

4. Soya Ext.( Ex-Indore) 48/2.5 19500

5. Rapeseed Ext.(Ex-Rajasthan) 38/2.5 10500

6. Sunflowerseed Ext.(Ex-Mah/Karn) 30/2.5 12100

(B) EXPORT (FAS) (US$ / MT)

1. Soyabean Ext(Bulk)Yellow (Ex-Kandla)48/2.5 395

2. Rapeseed Ext. (Bulk) (Ex-Kandla)38/2.5 235

3. Groundnut Ext.(Bulk) (Ex-Bedi) 45/2.5 NQ

4. Castormeal Ext. (Bulk)(Ex-Kandla) 77

5. Rice Bran Ext. (Bulk)(Ex-Kakinada) 16/3.5 155

(C) EXPORT (FOR) Ports (Rs./MT)

1. Soyabean Ext.(Bulk)Yellow(Ex-Kandla) 48/2.5 19200

2. Rapeseed Ext. (Bulk) (Ex-Kandla)38.2.5 11400

3. Groundnut Ext.(Bulk) (Ex-Bedi) 45/2.5 17200

4. Castormeal Ext(Bulk) (Ex-Kandla) 3800

V. INTERNATIONAL OILS(US$/M.T)

1. RBD Palmolein FOB Malaysia/Indonesia 665

2. RBD Palmolein C&F Mumbai 690

3. Crude Palm Oil(CPO) FOB Indonesia 610

4. Crude Palm Oil(CPO)C&F Mumbai 640

5. Soya Degum (Crude) CIF Mumbai 802

6. Sunflower Oil (Crude) CIF Mumbai 805

VI. LOCAL RATE FOR DOMESTIC & IMPORTED OILS

(A) Local Oils (Expeller) (Rs./M.t.)

1. Groundnut Oil 62000

2. Rapeseed Oil 48000

3. Sunflower Oil 41000

4. Kardi Oil 68000

5. Linseed Oil 57500

6. Sesame Oil 60500

7. Washed Cottonseed Oil 41000

8. Castor Oil (Comm) 53200

9. Mahua Oil 37500

10. Karanja Oil 37500

(B) Imported Oils (Rs./M.T.)

1. RBD Palmolein 36000

2. Crude Degummed Soybean Oil (Ex-Mumbai) 40000

3. Crude Palm Oil (5%) (Ex-Kandla)) 31500

VII. SOLVENT EXTRACTED OILS (Rs./MT.)

1. SE Soyabean Oil (Indore) 39000

2. SE R.B. Oil (RG-I) 36000

3. SE R.B. Oil RG-II (Industrial) 30500

4. SE Neem Oil 42500

VIII. REFINED OIL (Excl.ST) (Rs./MT)

1. SE Refined Cottonseed Oil 43200

2. SE Refined Rapeseed Oil 51000

3. Refined Soyabean Oil 43400

4. Refined Rice Bran Oil (Punjab) 38000

5. Refined Sunflowerseed Oil 45000

6. Refined Groundnut Oil 67000

IX. Non Edible Oils

1. P. F. A. D. - FOB Malaysia US$MT 445

2. P. F. A. D. - CIF Kandla US$MT 470

3. P. F. A. D. - Ex-Factory Kandla Rs./Tons 28000

4. Crude Palm Kernal Oil (5%) 655

UPDATE 1-India to import up to 5 mln T sugar 09/10 - Sucden

Jul 28 2009 9:55PM

* Deficit for 09/10 seen at 6.5 mln T

* Centre-south Brazilian crop may fill gap, but no guarantee

(Adds detail, quotes, background)

By Sharon Lindores

LONDON, July 28 (Reuters) - India is expected to import up to 5 million tonnes of sugar in 2009/10 due to strong domestic demand and sharply lower output, merchant Sucden Financial said on Tuesday in its quarterly market report.

Sucden sees the world's top sugar consumer producing slightly less than 17 mln tonnes in 2009/10, while its consumption is set to grow to 23.5 million tonnes.

That means India's deficit gap could be 6.5 million tonnes, Sucden said.

"As such, India will have no other choice than to import substantial quantities (up to 5 million tonnes) to keep its domestic market supplied throughout the crop year," Sucden said.

India faces a second year of hefty sugar imports after a weak monsoon, putting the country on course to increase its purchases and potentially displace the EU as the world's biggest buyer. [ID:nLN239557]

Sugarcane planting in India has fallen 2.5 percent so far this season but output may fall more steeply, widening India's sugar deficit and increasing prospects of imports. [ID:nBNG493693]

Sugar futures are expected to top recent three-year highs by the end of 2009 on strong import demand from India, the median forecasts in a mid-year Reuters poll of 13 analysts showed recently. [ID:nLD336828]

Sucden said Brazil's centre-south crop may help supply India's demand, but noted that the bulk of the Brazilian crop is still to come.

Brazil's 2009/10 center-south cane crush was up 19 percent by July 16 from a year ago but the total crush this season will likely fall short of expectations due to rains, the Sugar Cane Industry Association (Unica) said on Tuesday. [ID:nN28128648]

"Some concerns about the disappointing quality of the cane (from Brazil) and an eventual El Nino phenomenon bringing more rains in the second half of the year have already surfaced," Sucden said.

"Any reversed trend in centre-south Brazil performances should continue to impact on the upside the world sugar market in the coming months," Sucden said.

UPDATE 1-India~s rice, sugarcane planting dips-minister

Jul 28 2009 8:07PM

* India's sugarcane area shrinks 2.5 percent

* Output may diminish 1 pct every day unless it rains

* Rains forecast in India's top sugarcane state

(Adds detail, quote)

By Mayank Bhardwaj

NEW DELHI, July 28 (Reuters) - Sugarcane planting in India has fallen 2.5 percent so far this season but output may fall more steeply, widening India's sugar deficit and increasing prospects of imports.

Expectation of Indian imports have been a key factor in the global sugar market, helping lift raw sugar futures.

India has contracted imports of 115,563 tonnes of white sugar and 2.5 million tonnes of raws, the government said. [ID:nDEL47973] .

Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told parliament on Tuesday that India's sugarcane area had contracted to 4.27 million hectares from 4.38 million hectares a year ago as a prolonged dry spell, particularly in the top cane producing state of Uttar Pradesh, hurt the crop.

Officials in Uttar Pradesh, which produces more than half of India's sugarcane, said 35-40 percent of the crop had already been damaged as two-thirds of the state's districts were drought hit.

"This is a crisis time and every day counts. Each day which goes without rain causes at least one percent damage to the crop," said Ashok Kumar Sinha, chief publicity officer of the Sugarcane Development Department of the Uttar Pradesh government.

The state has received barely half the normal rainfall so far, but it is likely receive good rains in the next two to three days, J.P. Gupta, director of the local weather office, told Reuters.

India's monsoon rains revived in July after a dry June, but rainfall in Uttar Pradesh and key grain-producing states of Punjab and Haryana has been below normal even this month.

A U.S. Agriculture Department attache in New Delhi has forecast a fall in output of rice, peanuts, soybeans and sugarcane. [ID:nN27539727].

Pawar said rice sowing was likely to be affected more than other crops.

He said there was no fear of any scarcity as the country had grain stocks for 13 months, helped by bumper harvests in the past two years, which had helped state agencies buy record amounts of wheat and rice from local farmers.

He said rice sowing fell to 15.57 million hectares from 21.6 million hectares because of weak monsoon rains.

India~s Balrampur Chini to import 85,000T raws - official

Jul 28 2009 10:30AM

MUMBAI, July 28 (Reuters) - Sugar maker Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd has contracted to buy 85,000 tonnes of raw sugar at $375-$380 a tonne, which is expected to arrive in August and September, a senior company official told Reuters.

"This is our first consignment," Chief Financial Officer Kishore Shah said in an interview over the telephone.

"Shipment arrival is in the months of August and September. We are importing now. We will refine this in the next season," he said.

Industry and government officials say India has so far contracted to import about 3 million tonnes of raw sugar as its output dropped by 45 percent to 14.7 million tonnes in the crop year to September.

In 2009/10 output is likely to be below India's annual demand of about 22.5 million tonnes, making imports inevitable for the world's largest consumer in 2009/10 as well.

Balrampur Chini, which is currently selling sugar at 25 rupees a kg, posted a near four-fold jump in net profit for April-June to 663 million rupees, aided by higher realisation from sales, Shah said.

Govt allows duty-free raw sugar import beyond August 1

New Delhi, July 27 (PTI) The Centre has extended beyond

August 1 the import facility for raw sugar at zero duty
without any export obligation and that of white sugar through
state-owned trading firms to augment domestic supply.
"The government has extended the import of duty-free raw
sugar (under open general licence) as well as that of white
sugar through three PSUs beyond their deadline of August 1,"
an official source said, declining, however, to comment on how
long the relaxation will stay.
The decision, approved by the Cabinet in its meeting last
week, is likely to be announced by Food and Agriculture
Minister Sharad Pawar in Parliament tomorrow, he added.
The move has come amid growing apprehension about the
fate of sugar production next season, starting October,
following a decline in the area under sugarcane to 42.50
lakh hectares as on July 17 from 43.79 lakh hectares in the
same period last year.
Earlier in April, the government had scrapped a 60 per
cent import duty on raw sugar and allowed duty-free import
till August 1 under the open general licence (OGL) scheme,
under which mills do not have any export obligation.
It had also allowed MMTC, STC and PEC to import refined
sugar up to 10 lakh tonnes at zero duty till August 1.

India has imported raw sugar of 16.81 lakh tonnes so far,
while another 1.65 lakh tonnes are expected to reach by the
end of this month, industry sources said, adding that about 29
lakh tonnes have been contracted so far.
Similarly, the PSUs have contracted 1.15 lakh tonnes of
refined sugar so far, out of which 43,550 tonnes have already
arrived, the sources said. A total of 79,605 tonnes may land
in India by the end of this month, they added.
These steps by the government had followed projections of
a slump in the country's sugar production to 155 lakh tonnes
for this season (October-September) from about 264 lakh tonnes
in 2007-08.
The country, which is the largest consumer of sugar in
the world, needs about 225 lakh tonnes of the sweetener for
its annual domestic consumption.
The lower output has resulted in a higher price of sugar,
which is currently selling at Rs 27-30 a kg in retail markets,
compared with Rs 16-17 a kg a year before.

Rain forecast in drought-hit Indian sugarcane state

Jul 27 2009 4:16PM

NEW DELHI, July 27 (Reuters) - India's weather office has forecast rains in many parts of drought-hit Uttar Pradesh, the country's top sugarcane producing state.

The state usually accounts for more than half the sugarcane produced in India, the world's largest consumer of the sweetener.

State government officials say 47 of the 70 districts in the state are drought hit.

September soybean touches new low on spot, sowing

Jul 27 2009 3:04PM

MUMBAI, July 27 (Reuters) - Indian soybean futures touched new lows on Monday afternoon tracking weakness in spot market, and on good oilseeds sowing in the current season, raising hopes of better supplies later in the year, analysts said.

A drop in Malaysian palm oil also weighed on the markets, they added.

At 2:23 p.m, the September soybean contract on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange fell 2.23 percent to 2,211 rupees per 100 kg, after hitting a new low of 2,196 rupees.

The September soyoil futures was down 0.5 percent to 445.5 rupees per 10 kg.

Soybean prices in the spot market in central city of Indore fell 1.89 percent to 21,000 rupees per tonne, while soyoil prices fell 0.93 percent to 42,700 rupees per tonne.

The benchmark October palm oil futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was at 2,100 ringgit a tonne, down 1.04 percent at 2:26 p.m.

Soybean is crushed to produce soyoil, which is a substitute of palmoil. Their prices often move in tandem.

Sowing of soybean, the main oilseed of India, picked up in last two weeks and total area has almost touched previous year's acreage.

In Madhya Pradesh, India's largest producer, area has crossed 5 million hectares, same as last year, after good rains in the state, a senior government official said last week.

India soybean, soyoil ease on acreage, imports Jul 24 2009 11:17AM

MUMBAI, July 24 (Reuters) - Indian soybean and soyoil futures were down early Friday on sharp rise in soybean acreage in the last two weeks and higher imports of edible oil, analysts said.

A bearish Malaysian palm also weighed on the prices.

Poor rains in June and early July had pushed down oilseed sowing but good rains over the last ten days prompted large-scale sowing in Madhya Pradesh, where the acreage has now crossed 5 million hectare, same as last year.

India may import a record 8 million tonnes of vegetable oil in the year ending Oct 2009, the Solvent Extractors' Association said last week.

Indian monsoon weak in sugarcane, corn areas-govt

Jul 24 2009 12:20PM

NEW DELHI, July 24 (Reuters) - India's monsoon rains remain weak in the states of Bihar, the country's leading corn producer, and Uttar Pradesh, which normally produces more than half of India's sugarcane, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told parliament on Friday.

He said India's cotton, corn and oilseeds sowing was almost normal despite deficient monsoon rains this year, but sugarcane planting had dropped by 122,000 hectares from a year ago.

India's June-September monsoon rains began with an exceptionally dry phase in the first five weeks, but rainfall has improved in the past two weeks in most parts of the country.

(Reporting by Himangshu Watts; Editing by John Mair) ((himangshu.watts@thomsonreuters.com; +91 11 4178 1017; Reuters Messaging: himangshu.watts.reuters.com@reuters.net)) ((If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to newsfeedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com)) Keywords: IND

Q+A-How will Asian, MidEast festival demand for vegoils unfold?

Jul 23 2009 10:41AM

(For a related analysis, please click on [ID:nKLR467407])

By Niluksi Koswanage

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Reuters) - Almost half of the world's population of 6.7 billion people, who live in Asia and the Middle East, will celebrate a string of festivals starting in August, fuelling orders for palm oil, sunoil and soyoil cargoes.

Here are some questions and answers about festival demand in these regions and what could happen:

WHAT EFFECT DOES FESTIVAL DEMAND HAVE ON VEGOIL MARKETS?

It shores up prices. Palm oil output in top producers Indonesia and Malaysia seasonally rises in the second half and growing interest in palm oil cargoes during the festival season helps to control the stock build-up and support Malaysian benchmark prices , plantation analysts and traders say.

For U.S. soyoil markets <0#bo:>, veering between tight supplies in the old crop months and prospects of a bumper harvest in the fall, festival demand will keep prices steady.

WHICH COUNTRIES BUY VEGOILS IN A BIG WAY FOR ASIAN FESTIVALS?

The leaders of the pack are China and India, where a growing middle class spends more on vegetable oils as import taxes are systematically removed and economic growth speeds up.

India has more festivals such as the Muslim month of fasting called Ramadan starting in mid-August and the Hindu religious holiday of Diwali in October, since it is home to the world's second largest Muslim, and biggest Hindu, populations.

China has the mid-Autumn festival in early October, where vegetable oils are used in mooncake pastries and other delicacies, although swelling stockpiles of soyoil will make it less of a global buyer.

Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, and those in the Middle East, consider Ramadan to be one of the five pillars of Islam, in which evening feasts follow daytime fasts.

WHAT'S DEMAND GOING TO BE LIKE?

It's a mixed picture for vegetable oil imports for festivals. Most destinations from China's Tianjin Port to the Red Sea ports have storage tanks brimming with vegetable oils after exploiting cheap prices since late last year to snap up bargains.

India will lead the charge for purchases as the South Asian nation could have a poor soybean crop on account of the slow start to the monsoon while China has ample soybeans with crushers and in government reserves along with a record rapeseed harvest.

Traders say vegetable oil imports could exceed 8 million tonnes forecast by the Solvent Extractors Association for oil marketing year ending in Oct, up 27 percent from a year ago.

Palm oil imports during the crucial July-October buying period for festivals in India could rise 10 percent to up to 2.3 million tonnes from the same period a year ago, traders say.

In the remaining four months of the current year beginning November, India may import 450,000-500,000 tonnes of soft oils, including about 380,000 tonnes of soyoil.

China, on the other hand, will look more at palm oil due to ample soyoil stocks, but demand will still be muted. Overall palm oil imports should be in the range of around 300,000 tonnes in the lead up to the mid-Autumn festival, traders say.

As for the Middle East, an additional 150,000 tonnes for Ramadan alone is usually sufficient. But traders say demand might be 70 percent lower on ample stocks.

HAVE THEY EVEN STARTED BUYING AS YET?

There have been some deals but business has not been that aggressive, especially for the Middle East, whose imports of Malaysian palm oil for July 1-20 were up only 6.9 percent, according to cargo surveyor Intertek Testing Services.

Traders say it's partly because prices of refined palm olein, used in cooking oil, are $655 a tonne and buyers across the Middle East and Asia are waiting for a drop of at least $50-$60 before entering the markets in a big way.

Maharashtra seizes 33,500T sugar from raids-sources

Jul 21 2009 12:24PM

MUMBAI, July 21 (Reuters) - India's western Maharashtra state has seized 33,500 tonnes of sugar after raids on warehouses of traders suspected to be hoarding the sweetener, two state government officials said.

The government is also checking stocks of traders of pulses and oilseeds for hoarding, the officials in the state's food and civil supplies department, who declined to be named, said.

"Raids are going on. So far we have seized 335,000 quintals of sugar. Most are from Kolhapur and Sangli district," one of the officials said.

The department has also seized oilseeds and pulses in small amounts.

India had released 1.49 million tonnes of non-levy sugar for July. Non-levy, or free sale sugar, is sold by millers in the open market, but the quantity each mill can sell is fixed by the federal government on a monthly basis.

Maharashtra state has fixed a limit of 200 tonnes for sugar stocks held by traders.

Raids will prevent traders from stockpiling and those hoarding excess amounts may dismantle their stocks, Ashok Jain, president of the Bombay Sugar Merchants Association, said.

The ongoing raids are seen as an attempt to curb hoarding and check prices in the festival season that beings in August.

The federal government has given powers to state governments under the Essential Commodities Act to prevent hoarding of key commodities and control their price rise.

"We have sealed warehouses of those who were sitting on stocks above their limits or those who don't have licences to stock," said one of the state government officials.

Sugar prices have risen on lower Indian output that traders forecast may have fallen by 45 percent to 14.7 million tonnes in the crop year to September. Prices in the key Kolhapur market are up 28 percent to 2,356.15 rupees per 100 kg in 2009.

Maharashtra is the biggest producer of the sweetener, kharif pulses and second biggest producer of soybean in the country.

India soybean falls as sowing, Malaysia weighs

Jul 21 2009 10:51AM

MUMBAI, July 21 (Reuters) - Indian soybean and soyoil futures eased on Tuesday tracking oilseeds sowing, which is likely to end later this week, analysts said.

Losses in overseas markets and expectation of record edible oils imports also weighed, analysts said.

At 10:43 a.m, the August soybean contract on the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange fell 0.89 percent to 2,276 rupees per 100 kg, while August soyoil futures was down 0.65 percent at 459.35 rupees per 10 kg.

India may import a record 8 million tonnes of vegetable oil in the year ending Oct 2009, the Solvent Extractors' Association said last week.

The benchmark October palm oil futures on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange was down 0.46 percent at 2,150 ringgit a tonne at 10:44 a.m.

खाद्य तेल का भंडार बढ़ा, किसानों पर संकट

मुंबई July 14, 2009

उपभोग में 20 फीसदी के इजाफे में अनुमान के बावजूद मौजूदा तेल वर्ष (नवंबर-अक्टूबर) के पहले आठ महीने के उपभोग में खाद्य तेल के भंडार में 50 फीसदी तक का इजाफा हुआ।
इसकी वजह मलेशिया, इंडोनेशिया और अर्जेंटीना से सस्ता आयात है। आमतौर पर रिफाइनर्स और स्टॉकिस्टों के पास 6-6.5 लाख टन रहता है लेकिन अब उनके भंडार में अब 9-9.5 लाख टन है। इस स्थिति को उद्योग से जुड़े विशेषज्ञ किसानों के लिए संकट के तौर पर देख रहे हैं।
सामान्य तौर पर उद्योगों के पास आपूर्ति को बरकरार रखने के लिए 6-6.5 लाख टन रहता है। कीमतों में लगातार गिरावट होने से सभी वर्ग के आयातकों ने भविष्य में कीमतों में बढ़ोतरी के मद्देनजर अपना भंडार तैयार करना शुरू कर दिया।
सॉल्वेंट एक्सट्रैक्टर्स एसोसिएशन (एसईए) के कार्यकारी निदेशक बी वी मेहता का कहना है, 'यह स्थिति बेहतर है क्योंकि तिलहन में कम मुनाफा होने से किसान निराश होंगे और दूसरी फसलों की खेती के लिए ही मजबूर हो जाएंगे।' इस वक्त खरीफ का सीजन चल रहा है ऐसे में बड़ी तिलहन फसलों की बुआई चल रही है।
इंदौर के सोयाबीन प्रोसेसर्स एसोसिएशन (एसओपीए) के कोऑर्डीनेटर और प्रवक्ता राजेश अग्रवाल का कहना है, 'लगभग 80 फीसदी तक की बुआई हुई है जबकि बाकी बुआई आने वाले दिनों में पूरी हो जाएगी। लेकिन यह सब मानसून पर भी निर्भर करता है।'
एक अनुमान के मुताबिक 10 जुलाई को खत्म हुए हफ्ते के दौरान मानसून सामान्य स्तर से 11 फीसदी ऊपर है। बुआई में लगभग एक महीने तक की देरी हो चुकी है जिससे आगे पैदावार पर भी असर पड़ेगा। लगभग 90-95 दिनों के फसल चक्र के लिए मानसून को 15 अक्टूबर तक चलना चाहिए जो सामान्य तौर पर 15 सितंबर तक होता है। इसी वजह से आगे की बुआई से मनचाही पैदावार नहीं मिल पा रही है।
मेहता कहते हैं कि क्या हम आयात पर इतना ज्यादा निर्भर रह सकते हैं? एसईए के आंकड़ों के मुताबिक नवंबर 2008 से जून 2009 के बीच वनस्पति तेल के आयात में 63.27 फीसदी तक की उछाल आई और यह पिछले साल की समान अवधि के 35.7 लाख टन के मुकाबले 58.2 लाख टन हो गया।
आयात में भी 31 फीसदी तक की उछाल आई और यह 7.8 लाख टन हो गया जो पिछले साल जून में 5.9 लाख टन तक था। इस बीच वनस्पति तेल की कीमतों में नवंबर 2008 के मुकाबले इसमें गिरावट आई। मलेशिया के पामतेल के अत्यधिक उत्पादन, इंडोनेशिया के अनुकूल मौसम और लैटिन अमेरिका में बेहतर रोपण होने की वजह से ऐसा हुआ है।

Palm oil rebound not in sight; stocks, demand drag

KUALA LUMPUR/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Ballooning vegetable oil stocks and fast-declining interest from funds in volatile commodities may hold off a recovery in palm oil prices until next year despite its fall to a level much lower than rival soyoil.

Palm oil's discount to soy oil has more than doubled to $450 a metric ton in just six months as palm has lost half its value since hitting a historic high in March, triggering market talk that palm might have gone too low too soon and would bounce back.

But analysts said rising output in Malaysia and Indonesia and bumper crops in China and India would boost supplies and reduce export demand. And with a worsening financial crisis, funds are fleeing assets that have seen wide price swings recently.

"Panic has forced funds and investors to sell out palm oil," said Martin Bek-Nielson, executive director of United Plantations Bhd (UTPS.KL). "Cash is now king in an environment when stocks are ballooning, exports are dwindling and the global economy is getting shattered."

Rising use of soyoil to make biodiesel in the United States and concerns over production in Latin America could help soy oil, which is down about 13 percent this year, to claw back some gains to 45-48 cents a pound in coming months.

But palm oil would hover in the 2,000-2,400 ringgit ($576 to $691) a metric ton range until the second quarter of next year, when the lean production season will start.

Palm oil, used as a cooking oil and in products from cosmetics to biofuels, has lost 55 percent since hitting an all-time-high of 4,486 ringgit on March 4. More recently, palm sales have suffered because of defaults.

Sliding palm oil prices have hit shares of Southeast Asia's plantation industry, once most sought after by investors.

Sector bellwethers such as Malaysia's IOI Corp (IOIB.KL) have dived about 47 percent ever since palm oil prices fell from record highs. Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (AALI.JK), Indonesia largest listed planter, has slumped 60 percent, while Singapore-listed Wilmar International (WLIL.SI) has tumbled almost 40 percent.

For a graphic, click on: here

STOCK BUILD-UP

Indonesia and Malaysia, which together account for the bulk of global palm oil production, are expected to produce around 38 million metric tons of the commodity in 2008, around 8-10 percent higher than earlier estimates, analysts said.

The expectation of a surge in production comes at a time when appetite for the commodity is waning and top vegetable oil consumers, China and India, are cutting purchases.

This would leave the two countries with tank-bursting stocks of more than 5 million metric tons by December, the highest ever.

India, the world's second-largest edible oil importer after China, is looking forward to a bumper harvest from summer-sown crops. China is awash with palm oil supplies, with state reserves expected to last until the end of the year.

"A solid soybean crop is coming in full stream," said B.V. Mehta, executive director of the Solvent Extractors' Association of India. "We will see decline in palm oil demand from November."

India's soybean output is likely to reach a record 12 million metric tons this year, while China is expected to produce a record soybean crop of nearly 18 million metric tons.

China, Europe and other countries normally reduce their intake of palm oil in winter months because the tropical product solidifies in cold temperatures.

"If you look at the figures, palm oil end-stock will shoot, to 5 million tonnes, we have never seen something like this," said S. Paramalingam, executive director of Malaysian brokerage Pelindung Bestari. "The bigger concern now is the drop in exports, October will be equally bad, as September."

Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for September slumped by nearly a fifth to around 1.2 million metric tons, data from cargo surveyor SGS showed.

OBSCURE PALM OIL

Biofuels, responsible for lifting palm oil out of obscurity a few years ago, are not likely to lend support in the near term.

Even though palm prices have dropped to a point that it makes economic sense to burn it either in a vehicle or a generator, margins are still too low to propel any large scale conversion.

Palm-based methyl ester or biodiesel is quoted around $790 a metric ton in Malaysia, while gas oil -- against which the biodiesel competes -- is selling at $815 a metric ton in neighboring Singapore.

In addition, a lack of government mandates for blending in Malaysia will prevent investors from reviving their business plans.

"You can't just jump into the biodiesel business just because crude oil prices are falling, it's too volatile for comfort, " said Velayuthan Tan, chief executive of IJM Plantations (IJMP.KL), which has deferred construction of its 90,000 metric ton plant indefinitely.

"We prefer to be cautious because Malaysia has made no decisive move to implement the biodiesel policy."

And if the crisis on Wall Street leads to a recession, leading to weak energy consumption, biofuels will take a backseat and won't be a top priority for governments and investors.

"Governments are continuously looking for the right mix of variables such as high oil prices and ample feedstock supplies," said Nathan Mahalingam, managing director of Australia-listed Mission Biofuels (MBT.AX). "We had this for a time but now oil could be falling faster and palm biodiesel may get unattractive."

Soybean oil, which competes with palm oil, is also not expected to pull up palm as it is enjoying a premium for its increasing use in making biodiesel and output woes.

"In Brazil, they are experiencing severe shortage of moisture and in Argentina you have the drought," said M.R. Chandran, a vegetable oil industry analyst. "Soyoil is getting a better price also because more of soyoil is getting used in biodiesel."

Unlike soyoil, the share of palm oil in producing biofuels is relatively smaller at less than 5 percent of global output of 40 million metric tons. In the United States, more than 20 percent of the soyoil produced is turned into biodiesel

खली और तेल में कमजोर मांग से सोयाबीन नरम

रिफाइंड सोया तेल में घरेलू मांग कमजोर बनी हुई है जबकि सोया खली का निर्यात लगातार घट रहा है। चालू वित्त वर्ष की पहली तिमाही में सोया खली का निर्यात 75 फीसदी घटा है जिससे सोया खली के भाव मई से अभी तक 14.5 फीसदी घट चुके हैं। रिफाइंड सोया तेल के दाम इस दौरान 9 फीसदी टूटे हैं। अत: तेल और खली में उठाव न होने से सोयाबीन के भावों में मई से अभी तक 19 फीसदी की भारी गिरावट आ चुकी है। आगामी दिनों में मानसून अनुकूल रहा तो सोयाबीन की मौजूदा कीमतों में और भी गिरावट की संभावना से इंकार नहीं किया जा सकता।

केंद्र सरकार द्वारा जारी तीसरे अग्रिम अनुमान के मुताबिक वर्ष 2008-09 में देश में सोयाबीन का उत्पादन 101 लाख टन होने का अनुमान है जोकि पिछले साल के 109 लाख टन से कम था। उत्पादन अनुमान में जरुर गिरावट आई लेकिन आर्थिक सुस्ती के कारण भारत से सोया खली के निर्यात में चालू तेल वर्ष के पहले नो महीनों (अक्टूबर-08 से जून-09) के दौरान 34 फीसदी की कमी दर्ज की गई। इस दौरान भारत से 28.55 लाख टन सोया खली का ही निर्यात हुआ जबकि इसके पिछले साल 43.22 लाख टन का निर्यात हुआ था। जहां सोया खली के निर्यात में कमी आई वहीं दूसरी और इस दौरान देश में खाद्य तेलों के आयात में भारी इजाफा हुआ। नवंबर-08 से मई-09 के दौरान भारत में रिकार्ड 48 लाख टन खाद्य तेलों का आयात हो चुका है। खाद्य तेलों के आयात पर शुल्क लगने की संभावना के कारण ही आयातकों ने भारी मात्रा में आयात सौदे किये। सरकार ने आयात पर शुल्क नहीं लगाया इसलिए आयातकों की बिकवाली अब बढ़ने लगी है।

सोया खली के भाव मई महीने में बढ़कर 24,000 रुपये प्रति टन (बंद्रगाह पर) हो गये थे लेकिन निर्यात मांग घटने से सप्ताहांत तक इसके भाव घटकर 20,500-20,600 रुपये प्रति टन रह गये। इसी तरह से सोया रिफाइंड तेल के भाव इंदौर में मई में 478 रुपये प्रति 10 किलो थे जोकि शनिवार को घटकर 435-440 रुपये प्रति 10 किलो रह गये। अत: तेल और सोया खली में मांग घटने का असर सोयाबीन की कीमतों पर भी देखा गया। मई महीने में सोयाबीन के भाव प्लांट डिल्ीवरी 2650 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल थे जोकि शनिवार को घटकर 2150-2200 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल रह गये।

कृषि मंत्रालय द्वारा जारी बुवाई आंकड़ों के मुताबिक अभी तक देश में 31.62 लाख हैक्टेयर में सोयाबीन की बुवाई हो चुकी है। जबकि सामान्यत: 72.53 लाख हैक्टेयर में होती है। ऐसे में करीब 44 फीसदी क्षेत्रफल में बुवाई हो चुकी है। हालांकि व्यापारियों की माने तो बुवाई करीब 70 फीसदी पूरी हो चुकी है। भावों में गिरावट को देखते हुए स्टॉकिस्टों और किसानों की बिकवाली भी पहले की तुलना में बढ़ गई है। ऐसे में आगामी दिनों में मौसम अनुकूल रहा तो सोयाबीन के मौजूदा भावों में और भी गिरावट आने की संभावना है।

सरकार ने बढ़ाई डयूटी फ्री रॉ शुगर आयात की अवधि

सरकार ने डयूटी फ्री रॉ शुगर आयात की अवधि बढ़ा दी है। केंद्रीय कृषि मंत्री शरद पवार के मुताबिक डयूटी फ्री रॉ शुगर की अवधि को बढ़ाकर 31 मार्च 2010 कर दिया गया है। इसकी अवधि 31 जुलाई को समाप्त हो रही थी। हालांकि इसके बार में सरकार की ओर से अभी तक कोई अधिसूचना जारी नहीं हुई है। पवार ने बताया कि सरकार जल्दी ही इसके बार में अधिसूचना जारी करगी। गौरतलब है कि घरेलू बाजार में चीनी की बढ़ती कीमतों पर नकेल के लिए सरकार की यह कवायद हो रही है। इस साल देश में करीब 150-155 लाख टन चीनी का उत्पादन होने की संभावना है। जबकि पिछले साल का बकाया करीब 100 लाख टन का स्टॉक बचा हुआ था। चीनी की देश में सालाना खपत करीब 225-230 लाख टन की होती है। ऐसे में खपत के लिहाज से तो चीनी पर्यप्त है लेकिन नये सीजन में स्टॉक कम रहने की आशंका है। पिछले साल यहां करीब 263 लाख टन उत्पादन हुआ था। हालांकि केंद्र सरकार की तमाम कवायदों के बावजूद चीनी की कीमतों में तेजी जारी है।

सरकार ने चीनी की कीमतों को काबू करने के लिए कई कदम उठाए है। इनमें चीनी पर स्टॉक हॉल्डिंग और टर्नओवर लिमिट को बढ़ाकर 8 जनवरी 2010 तक कर दिया है। अप्रैल-जून के दौरान चीनी का नॉन लेव्ही अतिरिक्त कोटा जारी किया था। इसके अलावा सरकार ने घरेलू बाजार में चीनी की उपलब्धता बढ़ाने के लिए चीनी मिलों को कच्ची चीनी आयात करने की इजाजत दी ही है साथ ही दस लाख टन व्हाइट या रिफाइंड चीनी एडवांस ऑथोराइजेशन स्कीम के तहत शून्य कस्टम ड्यूटी पर आयात करने की अनुमति दी है। जानकारों के मुताबिक कम बारिश से इस साल भी गन्ने की पैदावार में कमी देखी जा सकती है। पवार ने मानसून की स्थिति पर भी चिंता जताई है।

फुटकर बाजार में इस समय चीनी की कीमतें 27-28 रुपये प्रति किलो चल रही हैं जबकि दिल्ली बाजार में चीनी के दाम 2425-2525 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल चल रहे हैं। अभी तक करीब 17.5 लाख टन रॉ शुगर का आयात हो चुका तथा करीब 25 लाख टन के सौदे हो चुके हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि पिछले दिनों मानसून को लेकर स्थिति थोड़ी सहज थी। लेकिन मौजूदा हालात पूरी तरह से विपरीत है। हालांकि आने वाले दिनों में सुधार की उम्मीद की जा सकती है। देश में 60 फीसदी खेती बारिश पर आधारित है। इस बीच उन्होंने अगस्त के पहले सप्ताह तक गैर बासमती चावल के निर्यात पर लगी रोक की समीक्षा करने का भरोसा जताया है। हालांकि इसके बार में फैसला मानसून की स्थिति को देखने के बाद ही किया जाएगा। घरलू बाजार में आपूर्ति सुनिश्चित करने के लिए सरकार ने 2007 में चावल निर्यात पर प्रतिबंध लगाया था। मौसम विभाग के मुताबिक आठ जुलाई को समाप्त हुए सप्ताह के दौरान सामान्य से करीब आठ फीसदी कम बारिश हुई है। वहीं एक जून से आठ जुलाई के दौरान होने वाली बारिश सामान्य से 36 फीसदी कम है

मॉनसून का अभाव कहीं रबी फसल भी न चौपट कर दे? 10 Jul 2009, 0744 hrs IST, इकनॉमिक टाइम्स

नई दिल्ली : मध्य भारत के मैदानी इलाकों और उत्तर-पश्चिमी क्षेत्र में पिछले दो दिनों में हुई छिटपुट

बारिश की दुहाई देते हुए केंद्र सरकार ने इन इलाकों में मॉनसून की हालत में सुधार का दावा कर दिया है। इसके बावजूद पंजाब, हरियाणा, उत्तर प्रदेश, राजस्थान और बिहार के कुछ इलाकों में पर्याप्त बारिश नहीं होने से केंद्र की पेशानी पर बल जरूर पड़ गए हैं।

अब सिर्फ गर्मी में बोए जाने वाली खरीफ फसलों को लेकर ही परेशानी नहीं बढ़ रही है बल्कि रबी (जाड़े के सीजन में बोई जाने वाली फसलें) सीजन की पैदावार में भी कमी का डर सरकार को सताने लगा है। रबी सीजन में पैदावार पूरी तरह सिंचाई के भरोसे रहती है। दरअसल मॉनसून के सामान्य से कमजोर रहने के कारण देश भर के जलाशयों में पानी का स्तर घटता जा रहा है। इससे बिजली और पानी सप्लाई पर भी असर पड़ रहा है।

संसद में कृषि मंत्री शरद पवार ने माना कि पंजाब, हरियाणा, उत्तर प्रदेश सहित बिहार और राजस्थान के कई इलाकों में मॉनसूनी बारिश कम हुई है। राज्यसभा में पवार ने कहा, 'मुझे लगता है कि हालात जल्द सुधरेंगे। फिलहाल राज्य सरकारों को बीज और उर्वरक दिए जा रहे हैं। जहां बारिश कम होने की वजह से बीज खराब हो जाएंगे, वहां हम अतिरिक्त बीज मुहैया कराएंगे।'

कृषि मंत्रालय के अधिकारियों का दावा है कि सूखे में खेती वाले और छोटी अवधि के फसल के बीज पर्याप्त मात्रा में हैं। हालांकि कई इलाकों में बीज तैयार हो चुके हैं, लेकिन उन्हें पानी नहीं मिल पा रहा है। मॉनसून के दगा देने के बाद पंजाब जैसे राज्यों में बिजली की किल्लत से खेती पर दोहरी मार पड़ रही है।

मॉनसून की सुस्त रफ्तार को देखते हुए अर्थशास्त्रियों ने देश के विकास दर में 2 फीसदी तक कमी आने की आशंका जताई है। देश की 58 फीसदी खेती मॉनसून के भरोसे है। जलाशयों में पानी कम होने से मॉनसून के भरोसे नहीं रहने वाले इलाकों में भी खेती पर असर पड़ सकता है। अगर ऐसा हुआ तो चावल, दाल और सरसों की कीमतों में इजाफा हो सकता है। कुल पैदावार में अकेले धान की हिस्सेदारी 43 फीसदी है। वहीं गेहूं की 34, मोटे अनाज की 16 और दाल की हिस्सेदारी 6 फीसदी है। देश की कुल आमदनी में कृषि क्षेत्र का योगदान 20-25 फीसदी है। अगर कुल कृषि उत्पादन गिरता है तो आर्थिक विकास दर 5-6 फीसदी के बीच सिमट सकती है, जिसके अभी 7-8 फीसदी रहने का अनुमान लगाया

UPDATE 2-U.S. growing record soybean crop, No 2 corn - USDA Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:11pm IST

* Largest US soybean crop, No. 2 corn crop in 2009

* "Sharply lower summer price prospects" for corn

* Corn-to-ethanol down 100 million bushels for 2008/09

* Lower corn, soybean, wheat prices in 2009/10 (Updates with market reaction and other details)

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - U.S. farmers will harvest their largest soybean crop and the second-largest corn crop ever, averting a potential supply squeeze while also leading to softer prices for the commodities, the government said on Friday.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said corn farmers face "sharply lower summer price prospects." Good weather and boosted plantings bode for a bumper crop.

Crop prices will return to "more normal" levels after last summer's problems in the world's top corn and soy producer helped drive prices to record highs, said Gerald Bange, chairman of the USDA's World Agriculture Outlook Board.

"The crop conditions are really not bad in most of the places where we're looking," Bange said on USDA's radio service.

The government boosted its corn crop forecast to 12.29 billion bushels, the second largest on record due to the second-largest plantings since 1946.

New-crop December corn futures CZ9 at the Chicago Board of Trade dropped 3 percent to $3.30 per bushel on Friday, pressured after the USDA said stocks were larger than traders had expected.

"The old-crop ending stocks (for corn) ballooned up here," said Don Roose, analyst at U.S. Commodities. "In the end, the government took the very conservative road and left the yields unchanged on corn and soybeans."

Soybeans SX9 were down 2 percent to $8.96 per bushel and wheat futures WU9 also dropped.

Overall, USDA monthly crop data for corn, soybeans and wheat came in near expectations.

In its monthly update, USDA projected a soybean crop of 3.26 billion bushels, the largest on record. It would replenish a stockpile forecast to shrink to 110 million bushels, the smallest in three decades and less than a two-week supply.

"We were looking for a bearish report and we got it," said Jack Scoville, vice president at Price Futures Group. "The soybeans are probably a bit negative and the wheat production was at, or just above, trade expectations."

The wheat crop was estimated at 2.112 billion bushels, including 1.53 billion bushels of winter wheat, 81.2 million bushels of durum and 506 million bushels of other spring wheat.

U.S. crop prices soared to record levels since 2006 but will moderate in the 2009/10 marketing year, USDA said.

It projected an average farm-gate wheat price of $5.30 a bushel, corn $3.75 a bushel and soybeans $9.30 a bushel.

By comparison, the farm-gate price for 2008's crops are estimated at a record $6.78 for wheat, $4.05 for corn and $10 for soybeans.

USDA lowered its forecast of corn used to make ethanol for this marketing year by 100 million bushels, to 3.65 billion bushels, due to lower U.S. fuel use