June 12, 2008

EU grain production to rise 14 percent in 2008-09

Analytical grain consultancy Strategie Grains raised its forecast for the 2008-09 EU cereal harvest Thursday to 291.3 million tonnes, a 14 percent rise on-year.

This is up 2.2 million tonnes from Strategie Grains's May forecast, with higher output projected for corn, soft wheat and barley crops.

However, Strategie Grains warned the outlook still depends greatly on weather in the coming weeks.

EU soft wheat output was revised up 700,000 tonnes to 129 million; barley output up 690,000 tonnes to 61.8 million; and corn production up 800,000 tonnes to 58.4 million.

In many parts of northeast Germany, Scandinavia, north and west Poland and the Baltic states, rainfall has been less than 25 percent of average, which Strategie Grains said was unfavourable for yields.

However, Strategie Grains said this has been offset by yield-improving rains in western Europe, especially in Spain and France.

The following tables list Strategie Grains forecasts for 2008-09 production, yields and area. They are compared with the previous month's 2008-09 forecasts and estimates for the 2007-08 season.