September 13, 2011
French wheat exports decrease 7% in July
France exported 1.25 million tonnes of soft wheat in July, declining 7% in the starting month of the 2011/12 season in contrast to 1.34 million last year because of competition from Russia, custom data showed on Monday (Sep 12).
Exports outside the EU reached 717,451 tonnes, down 6% from 764,314 tonnes a year earlier, while shipments within the EU came to 528,059 tonnes, a fall of 9% from 578,068 tonnes in July 2010.
French wheat exports so far this season have been curbed by large volumes shipped by Russia, which lifted in July a grain export ban it had imposed in August 2010 in response to a drought that ravaged crops.
Russia's absence from export markets for most of the 2010/11 season helped French exports rise 14% on year to 19.6 million tonnes, including a record 12.9 million tonnes shipped outside the EU.
Algeria was the main destination for French wheat exports in July, with 498,272 tonnes shipped, up from 324,572 tonnes in the year-earlier month.
France shipped no wheat to Egypt, the world's top importer which has bought Russian wheat heavily since July, compared with 63,000 tonnes exported in July 2010, the customs data showed.
In other grains, total barley exports in July were down 62% year-on-year at 270,586 tonnes. Corn exports fell 25% to 459,712 tonnes, although non-EU shipments rose to 27,046 tonnes from 5,767 tonnes.