A 2,500t shipment of oilseed rape has just been loaded by Openfield at Lingrain’s Boston port, destined for processing in Rotterdam.

“As with much of the oilseed rape we have seen so far this harvest, the quality has been respectable,” said John Thorpe, Openfield’s senior oilseed rape trader. “We have a busy export programme planned so hope the quality continues.”

However, yields had been disappointing, given that crops looked in excellent shape before harvest, he added.

“Initial reports suggest crops are performing broadly in line with the national average of 3.5-3.7t/ha.”

See also: First OSR crop out of Ipswich for United Oilseeds.

The UK therefore remained on track to produce about 2.6m tonnes of rapeseed this year, said Mr Thorpe.

“This would leave an exportable surplus of about 600,000t so we need the good quality to continue.”

About 175,000t of this was likely to be exported during the summer months, although farmers were reluctant to sell at the current low prices, he added.

“The market is under great pressure: The EU is on track to produce a crop in the region of 22.8m tonnes; an increase of about 1m tonnes on 2013, and the USA is anticipating a big soya crop.

“This, and a strong pound, is weighing heavily on prices,” he said.

“On the positive side, the South America soybean crop is still in the seed bag and there is still plenty of weather between now and next harvest.”