COCERAL cuts EU corn crop forecast to 48.6 mln tons

COCERAL sharply lowered its 2026 corn production forecast for the EU and the UK to 48.6 mln tons from 52.7 mln tons in its July estimate. Last year’s crop reached 56.5 mln tons.

The downgrade reflects extremely hot and dry conditions during corn pollination across key growing areas in Western and Central Europe. A reduction in planted area has also weighed on production prospects.

France’s corn crop is now forecast at just 7.6 mln tons, down from 9.4 mln tons previously and 13.8 mln tons in 2025. Hungary’s production could fall to 1.9 mln tons from 3.8 mln tons last year.

COCERAL also cut its soft wheat production forecast to 137.5 mln tons from 140.8 mln tons in July and 148.7 mln tons last year. Crops in Germany and Poland performed below earlier expectations. Barley production is estimated at 57.9 mln tons, compared with 63.3 mln tons in 2025.

Total grain production in the EU and the UK is forecast at 279 mln tons in 2026, down 8 mln tons from the July estimate and well below 307.4 mln tons last year. The rapeseed crop forecast was little changed at 21.3 mln tons.

Tags: corn, EU, Coceral, crop forecast