Flat Domestic Usage Forecast for U.S.

VANCOUVER - Apr 17/08 - SNS -- Per capita consumption of dry edible beans will likely remain flat through 2008 in the face of a smaller U.S. domestic harvest and higher average prices, suggests the USDA's Gary Lucier.

Writing in the April edition of the USDA Economic Research Service's Vegetables and Melons Outlook, Lucier said, "After hitting a recent low in 2004, disappearance (also known as net domestic use, which is a proxy for consumption) of dry edible beans increased for the third consecutive year in 2007 (calendar year estimate).

"With greater domestic availability (due to an increase in the 2007 crop, larger imports, and smaller exports) outweighing higher prices, domestic use rose to just under 2 billion pounds. When expressed on a per person basis, net domestic use of dry beans increased 3% to 6.6 pounds -- up 0.6 pound from the low of 6.0 pounds reached in 2004 after five consecutive annual declines in per capita use.

"In 2008, domestic dry bean use is expected to remain steady at best due to current expectations for a smaller crop, higher dry bean prices, and generally lower carryin stocks from 2007. As in 2007, reduced export volume and increased imports will be key in the maintenance of domestic disappearance."

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