United Oilseeds has loaded and exported its first boat of new crop oilseed rape out of Ipswich, heading for Rotterdam.

The vessel MV Olza is carrying 2650t of rapeseed, most of which has been purchased from farms in the South East and East Anglia.

“Harvest has only really started in Essex and Cambridgeshire, and has been stop-start due to the weather,” said trading manager Owen Cligg. “The furthest north I’ve heard of rapeseed being cut so far is Lincolnshire.”

Early yield reports were varied, from 2.5-4.5t/ha, with an estimated average of 3.5t/ha looking better than last year, he added.

“People are cutting when they can, so moisture contents are variable, but oil contents are generally quite good and the crops are a lot cleaner than last year.”

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With a likely exportable surplus of oilseed rape, and tight ending stocks, early demand had been strong, said Mr Cligg.

Keen to take advantage of early export opportunities, United Oilseeds was now loading a second boat – the Marry – out of Ipswich. That would finish loading on Tuesday and would head to Scandinavia.

“ Export trade will no doubt increase over the coming weeks as harvest 2014 progresses throughout the UK,” said Mr Cligg.

With the ban on neonicotinoides and the poor forward prices for both 2014 and 2015, he expected new crop plantings to drop by 10% or more. “But swings in supply and demand will probably bring prices back up in due course.”