Canada Markets

As seen by the blue line on the attached chart, grain producers delivered 1.4145 million metric tons (mmt) of all grains into licensed facilities in week 37 (the week ended April 19). This is the largest volume delivered in 12 weeks, 16.8% higher than the same week in 2018-19 and 34% higher than the three-year average for this week.

This is a busy time of year as producers get ready to both harvest and seed across the Prairies, while the increase in pea and lentil deliveries points to producers capitalizing on the recent rally, which also points to the likelihood of quick movement off the Prairies.

When compared to the previous week, the volume of wheat delivered increased by 26% to 524,900 metric tons (mt), the volume of durum increased by 12.7% to 135,000 mt, the volume of peas delivered increased by 53.6% to 89,400 mt and the volume of lentils delivered increased by 110% to 104,400 mt.

This movement kept elevator space on the Prairies at a premium. Weekly Canadian Grain Commission data shows licensed primary elevator stocks as a percentage of working capacity in the country as estimated by Quorum Corporation to fall from 91.1% to 85% in the three weeks from week 33 to week 36, only to increase to 86% in week 37.

Grain movement remains brisk, with the week 37 unloads at the country's western ports reported 16% higher than the four-week average and 23% higher than the same week in 2018-19, although the space across the country system has been quickly filled in recent weeks.

Year-to-date, deliveries of all grains into the licensed system are reported at 45.103 mmt as of week 37, up 5.8% from 2018-19, 8.5% higher than the three-year average, while a record pace of movement.

Year-to-date, producers have delivered 468,900 mt more durum than last year, 471,100 mt more oats, 249,200 mt more barley, 1.327 mmt more canola, 514,100 mt more peas and 380,000 mt more lentils. Year-to-date deliveries of wheat are reported at 15.4377 mmt, down 220,000 mt or a modest 1.4% from the same period in 2018-19.

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Cliff Jamieson can be reached at cliff.jamieson@dtn.com

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(CZ)

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