Since operating rate is generally lifted in China’s oil mills this week (Mar. 10th-16th), national soybean crush now amounts to 1,819,000 tonnes (1,446,105 tonnes of soybean meal, 327,420 tonnes of soybean oil), slightly up 0.082% or 14,800 tonnes above from 1,804,200 tonnes last week. Meantime, soybean processing capacity utilization is enhanced to 53.27%, 0.44 percentage points higher than 52.83% last week. Generally speaking, total soybean crush this week is still lower than expected despite of improved operating rate for haze in North China during China’s two sessions forces part of oil mills to stop operation for the sake of environmental protection. Additionally, a general overhaul may be started during mid-to-late March, lasting for half or one month, and in this case, weekly crush in the following two weeks may be around 1.73 Mln tonnes and 1.86 Mln tonnes respectively. 

    Soybean crush in year 2017/2018 (as from 1 October 2017) has now amounted to 41,035,620 tonnes, 6.65% or 2,436,843 tonnes higher than 38,598,777 tonnes attained in year 2016/17. While soybean crush in year 2018 (as from 1 January 2018) has totaled 16,700,000 tonnes, a growth of 5.02% or 799,021 tonnes from 15,900,979 tonnes year on year.

                          Figure: Trends of Soybean Weekly Crush in China (2014-2018)