October 25, 2010

EU wheat production falls on poor weather conditions

Wheat production in the EU is down from last year's level, due to dryness in Western Europe and wetness in Eastern Europe – weather conditions that are unfavorable for 2010-11 yields.

While grain quality was generally high in France and the UK, output was still down, as both attributes were influenced by the lack of rainfall during the summer. Eastern Germany and central Europe experienced excessive precipitation, which prolonged the wheat harvest and lowered crop prospects.

Rainfall during the wheat harvests in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary were especially problematic for quality. Wheat production in the EU is estimated at 135.6 million tonnes, up 0.5 million from last month's estimate, and up 2.3 million from the five-year average, but down 2.4 million from last year. Area crop is estimated at 25.7 million hectares, up 0.1 million from last month and up 0.1 million from the five-year average, but down 0.1 million from last year.

Yield is estimated at 5.29 tonnes per hectare compared to 5.36 tonnes per hectare in 2009-10, and 5.60 tonnes per hectare in 2008-09. Harvest results from the UK underscore the dryness problem, hence a lowering of the UK wheat estimate by 0.7 million tonnes from last month to 15 million.

Conversely, wheat estimates were raised in October for Spain by 0.4 million tonnes to 5.5 million, due primarily to an upward revision in area, and in France by 0.4 million tonnes to 38.1 million due to higher yield. In addition, estimated production for Romania was boosted by 0.1 million tonnes to 5.8 million, for Hungary by 0.2 million to 3.7 million, and for Bulgaria by 0.1 million to 3.8 million tonnes.