MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) in October release estimated 2018-19 dry peas (matar) production down by 9% year-on-year at 3.7 million tonnes (Mt) as lower harvested area, particularly in Alberta, was partly offset by higher yields.
Alberta and Saskatchewan are each expected to account for 1.8 Mt of the dry pea production, with the remainder of the production in Manitoba, British Columbia and Eastern Canada.
Supply is expected to be similar to last year at 4.4 Mt. Exports are forecast to decrease to 2.8 Mt, with China, the US and Bangladesh expected to be Canada’s top three markets. Carry-out stocks are forecast to rise despite expectations for a rise in domestic use. The average price is expected to be lower than 2017-18, particularly for yellow pea types.
During the month of September, Saskatchewan green and yellow pea farmgate prices rose $15/t each. Green dry peas prices are currently at a $65/t premium to yellow dry peas compared to last year when green pea prices were a $40/t premium to yellow peas.
In the US, area seeded to dry peas for 2018-19 is forecast by the USDA to decrease by 24% from last year to 0.9 million acres. This is largely due to an expected fall in area seeded in Montana. With higher yields and lower abandonment, US dry pea production is forecast by the USDA to decrease only marginally to 0.6 Mt. The US exported about 0.2 Mt of dry peas to the Middle East, Africa and China. The US is expected to maintain its market share in 2018-19 with production similar to the previous year.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015533)