April 29, 2013

EU reduces barley outlook, lifts durum-wheat crop forecast

The barley production in the EU is predicted to climb 2.4%, less than the forecast a month ago, while the durum-wheat outlook was raised.

This is according to the European Commission's latest grain balance sheet.

Farmers in the 27-nation bloc are forecast to harvest 55.2 million tonnes of barley compared with 53.9 million tonnes in 2012, according to the EU data published online on April 26. That compares with a March outlook of 56 million tonnes.

Cold March weather delayed crop development by a month in France and more in the UK and extended winter dormancy in Germany and Poland, the EU's crop-monitoring unit reported last week. The delay means the likelihood of realising the full crop potential is "somewhat compromised," it said.

Durum-wheat production is seen at 8.8 million tonnes, up from 8.5 million tonnes in 2012, compared with an earlier outlook for unchanged production.

This year's soft-wheat crop is predicted to climb to 129.7 million tonnes from 123.3 million tonnes, with the outlook reduced by 100,000 tonnes from March. The outlook for wheat stockpiles at the end of June 2014 was cut by 600,000 tonnes to 9.7 million tonnes on lower beginning stocks.

The EU maintained its outlook for the corn crop to rise to 65.3 million tonnes from 55.4 million tonnes harvested last year. The rapeseed harvest in the region is seen rising to 21 million tonnes from 19.3 million tonnes, also unchanged.