November 17, 2006

EU wheat production seen higher in 2007/08

European Union wheat production is projected to be higher in 2007/08 at 116 million tonnes with growing area to remain stable or only slightly up, Strategie Grains told Dow Jones Newswires Thursday (Nov 16).

Strategie Grains forecasts EU wheat production for 2006/07 at 108.6 million tonnes. The group stressed the 2007/08 forecast is a preliminary one and further country-by-country forecasts will follow in early 2007.

Amid an increase in rapeseed production, EU wheat growing area will remain stable or only increase by around 1 percent, Strategie Grains said. In 2007/08 EU wheat growing could rise to 19.3 million hectares from 19.1 million hectares in 2006/07.

Wheat growing area will have to compete more with rapeseed growing area in the coming years, as the French Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries forecast this week a 13 percent rise in rapeseed production for 2006/07 from the previous five year average.