June 14, 2012

France's farm exports fall for third month

The farm and food exports of France dropped for the third month in April amid lesser wheat and barley shipments.

Exports of farm products and food slipped to EUR4.58 billion (US$5.77 billion) from EUR4.6 billion (US$5.79 billion) a year earlier, the Agriculture Ministry reported.

"Exported volumes of soft wheat, durum wheat and barley are strongly down," the ministry said.

France's grain exports excluding rice fell to EUR534 million (US$672 million) from EUR693 million (US$873 million) in April last year, the ministry reported. The value of soft-wheat exports slumped 26% on lower prices and a 14% drop in shipped volumes.

Oilseed and protein-crop exports rose to EUR124 million (US$156 million) from EUR104 million (US$131 million), the ministry said.

France imported EUR3.76 billion (US$4.73 billion) of agricultural goods and food in the month, compared with EUR3.73 billion (US$4.7 billion) in April 2011, the ministry said.