Birdseeds Hold Firm

VANCOUVER - Jan 18/13 - SNS -- Birdseed ingredient markets were mostly unchanged in hand-to-mouth buying by birdseed packagers and exporters.

White proso millet prices were unchanged in both grower and inter-dealer markets during the week; while Canadian canaryseed was unchanged as offers from growers remain closely aligned with the needs of processors.

Reviewing markets in the United States, the U.S. based National Sunflower Association reports, "(O)ld crop birdfood prices lost some steam this week as nearby prices dropped off somewhat. But at the crush plants old crop gained 50-60 cents (per 100 pounds or cwt) and new crop values added 35-55 cents this week.

"Export sales of US sunflower oil have gotten off to a strong start as some former customers have jumped in with recent purchases. The main market for US sun oil is Canada, but in the past two months Mexico and Taiwan have stepped in and purchased 9,000 MT of sun oil from US exporters. These two countries were very large markets for US sunflower oil in the past so this is good news for old crop prices.

"2013 new crop contractors for NuSun are offering cash and Act of God contracts. High Oleic sunflower contracts are also out and are priced at a $3.00 per cwt. premium to NuSun contracts.. . . . We are in the critical period where the crop is made in Argentina and Brazil. Traders are expecting a record large oilseed crop and any hint of a drop off in production will be bullish for oilseed prices in the US."