March 31, 2008

EU grain output for 2008-09 forecast to be up 12 percent on-year

EU 2008-09 grain production is forecast at 283.9 million tonnes, the EU's organization of grain traders, the Comite du Commerce des Cereales, or Coceral, said Friday (March 31, 2008).

This is up 12 percent from the 2007-08 crop of 254.3 million tonnes.

EU grain area is expected to be up 5.4 percent to 58.6 million hectares with a 5.9 percent rise in yields to 4.84 tonnes a hectare, Coceral said.

EU 2008-09 oilseed production is forecast to rise 6.1 percent on the year to 25 million tonnes, with Coceral also projecting an increase in both area and yields.

Last season most of the EU suffered from a dry April, with drought conditions continuing in eastern regions. Overly wet conditions in western regions last summer also trimmed yields.

In an effort to boost planting this year, the EU has abolished the mandatory 10 percent set-aside scheme.