October 10, 2022

EU usable cereal production to fall 5.1% over five-year average in 2022/23

The European Union's usable cereal production is projected at 270.9 million tonnes for 2022/23, a 5.1% decrease over the five-year average — and a 7.8% decrease year-on-year — according to this year's autumn edition of the short-term outlook for EU agricultural markets.

This is in no small part due to the drought conditions that affected maize in particular (-19.3% on the five-year average).

Soft wheat production is forecast at 127.0 million tonnes (-2.4%), durum wheat at 7.4 million tonnes (-4.9%), maize at 55.5 million tonnes (-23.7%), barley at 51.5 million tonnes (-1.0%), triticale at 11.3 million tonnes (-2.1%), oats at 7.6 million tonnes (+1.9%), and rye at 7.5 million tonnes (-4.0%).

A weak harvest, combined with high cereal prices and an anticipated decrease in meat production, is expected to reduce the use of cereals for feed by 2.3% year-on-year.

However, trade of cereals could grow by 12.3% compared to the previous marketing year (including +6.5% of exports and +24.7% of imports).

Strong EU oilseed production is expected in 2022/23 (32.2 million tonnes, +8.5% above the five-year average).

- European Commission