March 26, 2007

 

EU 2007/08 grain output estimated at 278.4 million tonnes

 

 

European Union 2007/08 grain production is estimated at 278.4 million tonnes, up 7.7 percent on the year, according to the EU's organisation of grain traders, the Comite du Commerce des Cereales, or Coceral, Friday (Mar 23).

 

In Coceral's first production figures for the new crop year, grain area was estimated up 1.2 percent from last season at 56.3 million hectares. Average EU grain yields were forecast to rise 6.5 percent to 4.94 tonnes per hectare.

 

EU 2007/08 soft wheat output was forecast by Coceral at 126.3 million tonnes, up 8.0 percent on the season. Soft wheat yields are seen up 6.1 percent at 5.76 tonnes per hectare.

 

Total EU barley output is forecast to rise 5.3 percent to 59.0 million tonnes in 2007/08, while a 7 percent increase is expected in corn output at 54.0 million tonnes.

 

In France, the EU's largest grain producer, output is projected to rise 8.1 percent to 65.7 million tonnes. For Germany, the second largest, 2007/08 grain output is forecast to rise 6.1 percent on the season to 46.0 million tonnes.

 

Last season dryness and heat just before harvest had trimmed yield potential. While still early in the season, traders say the 2007/08 season shows great potential with development running ahead of normal following a mild winter.

 

For neighbouring nations Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia and Albania, 2007/08 total grain output is forecast to rise up 9.5 percent at 15.2 million tonnes.

 

The following are tables of Coceral EU-27 grain crop forecasts.

 

OUTPUT (million tonnes)

                2007/08    2006/07

Soft Wheat    126.3      116.9

Durum           8.4        7.7

Barley           59.0       56.1

Corn             54.0       50.5

Rye               8.0        6.5

Oats              8.6        7.6

Mixed Grain    4.4        4.4

Triticale          9.5        8.7

TOTAL         278.4     258.5

 

YIELDS (tonnes/hectare)

               2007/08    2006/07

Soft Wheat     5.76       5.43

Durum           2.80       2.54

Barley           4.25       4.07

Corn             6.60       6.31

Rye               3.21       2.69

Oats              2.91       2.64

Mixed Grain   2.80       2.64

Triticale         4.19       3.71

AVERAGE       4.94       4.64

 

AREA SOWN (million hectares)

                2007/08    2006/07

Soft Wheat   21.943     21.526

Durum          2.996      3.047

Barley         13.885     13.762

Corn            8.192       8.000

Rye             2.503       2.426

Oats             2.970      2.888

Mixed Grain  1.583       1.679

Triticale        2.275      2.333

TOTAL         55.347     55.661