Mercaris, the market data and auctions startup that is helping to grow organic and non-GMO agriculture in the U.S., released its Monthly Market Update on August 14 exploring the current state of organic and non-GMO commodity production, supply, and demand.

“Although continued growth in U.S. organic production remains important to the market, imports clearly emerged as the most influential U.S. organic supply factor” said Ryan Koory, Director ofEconomics at Mercaris. Organic whole soybean imports are on pace to decline 35 percent year-over-year by the end of the current marketing year, mostly due to a shift in demand to organic soybean meal. India has emerged as the dominant country of origin of U.S. imported soybean meal. Mercaris estimates U.S. imports of combined organic soybeans and soybean meal will expand 5 percent year-over-year by the end of the 2018/19 marketing year.

Organic whole and cracked corn imports increased 26 percent in July, month-over-month. The increase in imports originated from the Black Sea region, which reached their highest level sinceMarch of this year. The supply of organic cracked corn imports remains heavily reliant on theBlack Sea region. “Whether the USDA’s increased scrutiny will have a major impact on U.S.imports is undetermined as import data has yet to reflect any change in the market.” said Koory.

The Mercaris Monthly Market Update also highlighted the slowing growth of U.S. organic livestock feed demand. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s most recent data, both organic broiler slaughter and organic fluid milk sales remained below year ago levels. Organic broiler slaughter has shown considerable weakness, with July slaughter down 8 percent from the prior year. Organic cage free egg layer inventory growth has remained mostly positive this year.However, the rate of growth has slowed considerably, remaining at just 1 percent year-over-year since April. “Organic livestock feed demand has been a crucial, and reliable driver of demand growth for the organic sector for the past several years.” said Koory. “With shifting trade patterns and an uncertain 2019 harvest, slowing organic feed demand adds yet another layer of risk for the marketing year ahead.”

To learn more about Mercaris research and market insights, visit www.mercaris.com.To request the 2019 August Monthly Market Update, please email mercaris@mercaris.com.

About Mercaris

Since 2013, Mercaris has been helping its customers capitalize on growing demand for organic and non-GMO foods by providing market access and services tailored to the needs of the identity-preserved agriculture industry. Mercaris focuses its data and services on identity-preserved commodities, including organic and non-GMO corn, soybean, meal and organic wheat, and other small grains markets across all regions of the United States andCanada, and recently launched an organic dairy initiative. Mercaris also maintains an onlineTrading Platform, a pioneering tool that enables buyers and sellers to find new markets and more profitably trade organic and non-GMO commodities.