PARIS: European Union soybean imports in the 2019/20 season that started last July had reached 13.83 million tonnes by May 31, official EU data showed on Tuesday.

That was 0.2pc below the volume cleared by May 26 last year, the data showed.

EU rapeseed imports in 2019/20 had reached 5.59 million tonnes, up 43pc year on year.

Soymeal imports so far in 2019/20 were at 16.46 million tonnes, up 1pc, while palm oil imports were down 11pc at 5.25 million tonnes.

The European Commission is continuing to include Britain in its EU crop export and import data after Britain's exit from the bloc at the end of January.

The weekly data was delayed from Monday because of a public holiday in parts of Europe.