Exports of milling wheat from France will fall to the lowest level in this century

FranceAgriMer, the state agency, has lowered its forecast for milling wheat exports from France outside the EU this season to the lowest level since the beginning of this century due to poor harvest, high competition and insufficient demand from North Africa and China.

This season, France has harvested an extremely low wheat crop of uneven quality. Export opportunities are also negatively affected by fierce competition from Russia and a lull in supplies to China.

As a result, France will be able to export 3.5 million tons of milling wheat to non-EU countries this season, which is 0.4 million tons less than the previous forecast and 66% lower than last season. This will also be the lowest level since the beginning of the 21st century. The current low in the 21st century was set in the 2003/24 season at 3.8 million tons.

Faced with Russian competition in Algeria and Morocco, as well as a lack of demand from China, France has begun to rely more on the markets of sub-Saharan Africa, which import smaller volumes.

The forecast of French soft wheat exports to other EU countries in the current season was increased from 5.9 mln tons to 6.16 mln tons. However, this figure is 2% less than last season.

The estimate of ending stocks of soft wheat was increased from 2.78 million tons to 2.87 million tons, which is 10% lower than last season.

Tags: export, France, wheat