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StatsCan releases principal field crop stock data as of July 31

The results of Statistics Canada’s tri-annual supply and disposition exercise indicate that stocks of wheat, oats, dry peas and lentils were all up as of July 31 compared with the same date a year earlier, while canola and barley stocks were down, largely due to higher exports, as global demand for Canadian grain remained high.

Despite restrictions imposed as a result of wildfire-related concerns in Western Canada earlier this summer, grain movements by rail in the region rose 5.2 per cent – to a record 61.6 million tonnes – from the same period a year earlier.

Wheat stocks higher despite increased exports

Total stocks of wheat increased 3.7 per cent year over year to 5.7 million tonnes as of July 31, largely on higher opening supplies (+4.6 per cent, to 40.8 million tonnes). The increase was led by higher commercial stocks (+7.1 per cent, to 3.5 million tonnes), which more than offset lower on-farm stocks (-1.3 per cent, to 2.2 million tonnes). The increase in total wheat stocks was driven by wheat excluding durum (+4.0 per cent, to 5.0 million tonnes), while durum wheat stocks rose 2.0 per cent to 751,500 tonnes.

Deliveries of wheat rose 5.8 per cent year over year to a record high 31.7 million tonnes as of July 31, contributing to the decrease in on-farm stocks. Exports increased 10.1 per cent to 26.4 million tonnes on strong global demand, particularly from China.

Canola stocks lower as crushing hits record high

Total stocks of canola decreased 48.6 per cent to 1.8 million tonnes – their lowest level since July 2017. The decrease was a result of lower on-farm stocks, which fell 50.3 per cent to 1.1 million tonnes. Moreover, commercial stocks fell 45.6 per cent to 704,000 tonnes.

Lower supply of canola for the 2020/21 crop year (-6.0 per cent, to 23.0 million tonnes), coupled with high demand, drove stocks lower. Deliveries of canola fell 2.3 per cent to 20.2 million tonnes, but remained above the average of the last five years. Canola crushing increased 2.8 per cent to a record 10.4 million tonnes as world demand for vegetable oils remained high.

Exports of canola rose 4.9 per cent to 10.5 million tonnes as a result of strong global demand. This increase was largely due to higher exports to China, which rose by approximately one-third year over year.

Dry pea and lentil stocks rise as exports decrease

Total stocks of dry peas more than doubled (+105.6 per cent) year over year to 478,500 tonnes as of July 31. Both on-farm (+120.8 per cent, to 212,000 tonnes) and commercial (+94.9 per cent, to 266,500 tonnes) stocks were up. Higher year-over-year opening supplies contributed to the increase in total ending stocks, offsetting a 23.6 per cent increase in domestic use to 851,600 tonnes. Exports fell 3.5 per cent to 3.6 million tonnes, due largely to lower shipments to major trading partners such as Bangladesh and India. This drop offset the increased demand from China.

Stocks of lentils totalled 405,600 tonnes as of July 31 – up 94.3 per cent from the same date one year earlier, as both on-farm (+98.0 per cent, to 299,000 tonnes) and commercial (+84.5 per cent, to 106,600 tonnes) stocks rose. A decline in exports (-15.0 per cent, to 2.3 million tonnes) contributed to higher total stocks and was largely the result of lower exports to most of Canada’s major lentil importers, including India, Bangladesh and Turkey.

Barley stocks reach record low while exports climb

Barley stocks were at their lowest level on record as of July 31, down 25.7 per cent from the previous crop year to 711,100 tonnes. The decrease was attributable to both lower on-farm (-19.9 per cent, to 551,300 tonnes) and commercial (-40.5 per cent, to 159,800 tonnes) stocks.

Deliveries of barley off-farm increased 17.4 per cent to 5.1 million tonnes, contributing to the decrease in on-farm stocks. Barley exports were up 54.8 per cent year over year to 4.6 million tonnes, with more than 90 per cent destined for China. Barley used for feed fell 10.6 per cent year over year to 6.1 million tonnes as of July 31.

Oat stocks up as domestic use falls

Total stocks of oats were up 54.7 per cent year over year to 658,500 tonnes as of July 31, driven by higher commercial (+41.3 per cent, to 307,900 tonnes) and on-farm (+68.8 per cent, to 350,600 tonnes) stocks.

Lower domestic use coupled with higher opening supplies resulted in an increase in total oat stocks compared with the same date a year earlier. Oat exports rose 12.2 per cent to 2.9 million tonnes, surpassing 2008 as the highest year on record.