July 27, 2012

Poland's 2012 grain harvest likely down 3-6% on harvest slump

As a slump in harvest from winter sowings will be partly offset by a rise in summer output, Poland's grain harvest is expected to drop 3-6% in 2012 to around 22.8 million to 23.5 million tonnes, Poland's statistics office said on Thursday (July 26).

Frosts reaching -25 degrees Celsius, volatile temperatures and drying wind destroyed around a third of winter sowings at the EU's fourth largest grain producer, affecting plants that were not covered with snow, mainly in northwest and central parts of the country.

Official estimates show 7.2 million hectares will be sown with grains this year, down from 7.4 million in 2011 and 7.9 million on average in 2006-2010, of which wheat is to contribute around 2.1 million hectares.

Poland's rapeseed output is expected to drop to around 1.6 million tonnes this year, versus nearly 1.9 million tonnes in 2011.