Britannia P&I Club issued a loss prevention update regarding the risks associated with moisture levels and shipping delays ahead of Brazil’s soya bean season.
Brazil’s soya bean harvest starts in January and lasts until June. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects 169 million metric tonnes of soya beans to be produced in Brazil this year. As the world’s largest soya bean producer, Brazil exports a large share to China.
Furthermore, high moisture levels of up to 14% (the maximum allowed under Brazilian standards), combined with shipping times of up to 40 days to China, increase the risk of cargo damage.
Delays at Chinese ports, where vessels often wait at anchor for a berth, can further heighten this risk.
Moisture content and temperature at the time of loading are key factors in determining the approximate allowable storage time for this cargo.
- Airflow through the soybeans permits maintaining the grain temperature but does not extend the allowable storage time beyond that listed in the table.
- Allowable storage time is cumulative. If 16% moisture soybeans were stored for 35 days at 50 degrees, one-half of the storage life has been used. If soya beans are cooled to 40 degrees, the allowable storage time at 40 degrees is only 70 days.
