STAT Communications Ag Market News

South Africa Drops Bean Forecast

PRETORIA - Jun 30/15 - SNS -- Optimism over average yields for this year's dry edible bean crops in South Africa is fading, with this year's crop now believed to smaller than initially forecast, according to the latest crop forecast from the South Africa Grain Information Service (SAGIS).

Forecast yields for dry edible beans dropped from 1,185 to 1,147 kilograms per hectare, down 22% from last year. Despite a 14.7% jump in seeded area to 64,000 hectares, this year's crop is expected to be down almost 11% ate 73,390 metric tons (MT).

The drop in production and easing world trading levels for edible beans is expected to stimulate increased import activity in the coming months. That would break from a recent downward trend. Imports have been trending lower since 2009 when they almost totalled 122,000 MT. Last year saw the biggest drop in imports, with purchases of all pulses plunging 40% to just 32,365 MT.

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