EU 2023/24 soft wheat exports down 11%

Soft wheat exports from the European Union since the start of the 2023/24 season in July had reached 15.84 million metric tons by Jan. 7, down 11% from ayear earlier, data published by the European Commission showed.

EU barley exports totalled 3.17 million tons, up 3% from the corresponding period in 2022/23, while EU maize imports were at 9.03 million tons, down 43% froma year earlier.

However, the Commission said grain export data for Italy was missing since Dec. 20.

Tuesday’s publication was the first in three weeks following a break for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The Commission’s latest figures showed Romania was still the biggest EU soft wheat exporter so far in 2023/24, with 4.07 million tons shipped, followed by France with 3.36 million, Poland with 2.34 million, Bulgaria at 1.67 million and Lithuania at 1.49 million.

EU wheat exports this season have been curbed by strong Russian competition, including in Algeria, though the gap compared withlast season has narrowed in recent weeks, partly reflecting a run of French shipments to China.

For maize imports, Spain remained by far the largest EU buyer so far in 2023/24 with 3.95 million tons.

Tags: export, EU, wheat