April 2, 2012

EU 2012-13 wheat production down 2.1% at 126.76 million tonnes

In its first forecast for the 2012-13 harvest, grains industry lobby group Coceral said Friday (Mar 30) that EU's soft wheat harvest is expected to drop by 2.1% this year to 126.76 million tonnes.

The 27 countries that make up the EU are anticipated to produce 280.82 million tonnes of total grain, down from 283.29 million tonnes. Coceral expects the bloc's corn production to fall to 62.09 million tonnes, from 64.69 million tonnes, while barley output will rise to 44.27 million tonnes, from 41.68 million tonnes.

The lobby group expects France, the bloc's biggest grower, to produce 34.08 million tonnes of soft wheat, up from 33.97 million tonnes in 2011-12, while Germany is forecast to produce 22.37 million tonnes, down from 22.71 million tonnes.

The UK is slated to produce 15.58 million tonnes, up from 15.25 million tonnes.

Coceral also cut its forecast for the EU's 2011-12 soft wheat production to 129.54 million tonnes, from 129.64 million tonnes estimated in December.