Argentina exports 2.1m tons of soybeans

Argentina exports 2.1m tons of soybeans

BUENOS AIRES (Reuter): Argentine exporters have sold a total 2.1 million tons of 1995/96 soybeans, including some 400,000 tons to China, an export analyst said Wednesday.

Maize shipments total 4.6 million tons, including 324,000 tons to Indonesia.

"The Chinese have already shipped about 200,000 tons, but people say they've bought another 200,000," said the analyst, who asked not to be named.

Rumors in Chicago Wednesday that China was looking for 75,000 tons of South American soybeans might be related to the date coming due on optional origin soybean purchases giving Argentine beans as an alternative, he said.

Exporters said the Chinese were not buying soybeans in Argentina at the moment.

Referring to figures including grains still not shipped, the analyst said the Netherlands was apparently the next biggest buyer of 1995/96 soybeans so far, with 550,000 tons ordered. Spain has bought 300,000 tons, Malaysia 200,000 tons, Italy 180,000 tons and Germany 170,000 tons.

He said 1995/96 maize shipments total 4.6 million tons so far. Iran has been the biggest buyer, with 760,000 tons shipped. Malaysia has shipped 500,000 tons, South Korea 380,000 tons, Indonesia 324,000 tons, and Peru 230,000 tons. Britain, Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia have shipped about 100,000 tons each.

Cuba, Spain and Thailand have each shipped 70,000 tons.

Total maize sales so far this season, including grain still to be shipped, are about 5.7 million tons.