摘要: |
Second quarter 2008 Brazilian soybean transportation costs as a percentage of landed cost declined 28-49 percent compared with the 2nd quarter of 2007. Truck rates increased up to 40 percent in Mato Grosso (MT), but this was not enough to offset the significant decline in ocean rates. Ocean rates to Shanghai dropped 35 percent and those to Hamburg dropped 19 percent. Producers stored their soybeans during the peak of the harvest (March-April), hoping for higher prices, and sold their product during the second quarter, especially in the states of MT and Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). These two states account for 37 percent of Brazil soybean production. The delay in soybean sales to the 2nd quarter caused an overlap with the corn, wheat, and rice harvests, resulting in a 12-40 percent boost in truck rates. Even though soybean prices nearly doubled in MT, producers did not realize the benefits of the increase in farm prices due to high debt and rising production and transportation costs. |