PARIS: European Union soybean imports for the 2025/26 season that began in July had reached 6.73 million metric tons by January 15, down 16 percent from a year earlier, though some figures were incomplete, European Commission data showed on Tuesday.
EU rapeseed imports in the same period totalled 2.08 million tons, down 41percent year on year. Meanwhile, soymeal imports fell by 11percent to 9.86 million tons.
EU palm oil imports were at 1.65 million tons, down 3 percent from a year earlier.
The Commission said data in its latest report was incomplete because of a technical issue. Instead of running to the previous Sunday, as usual, the figures were to Thursday January 15, it said.
Euronext wheat was little changed on Monday as traders weighed up a wave of importer demand against abundant supplies in exporting countries.
March milling wheat, the most active position on Euronext’s Paris-based futures, was unchanged at 190.75 euros (USD221.90) a metric ton at 1602 GMT.
Volumes were relatively light, with a holiday closure in Chicago depriving the European market of usual impetus. Saudi Arabia’s state grains agency said on Monday it had bought 907,000 tons of wheat in a tender, well above the 595,000 tons originally sought. Algeria is holding a tender to buy wheat with initial results expected later on Monday.
“All this demand should help keep Euronext steady,” a futures dealer said. However, aggressive-looking prices in the Saudi tender underscored ample availability of export supplies, he added. A rise in the euro against the dollar also curbed Euronext prices.
“The week is starting with Saudi Arabia and Algeria - two of the biggest buyers - in the market but it does not look like the west EU will get much of the business,” one German trader said. “But a big volume of supplies looks like being removed from the supply side with the Saudi purchase very much larger than expected.”
Traders said continuing poor political relations between France and Algeria could again mean French wheat is tacitly excluded from Algeria’s tender, as in previous Algerian purchases in past months.
Increased shipping costs after recent attacks on vessels could be a handicap to Russian and Ukrainian offers in Algeria’s tender, traders said, with very cheap Argentine wheat expected to be in the running.
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