France may harvest smallest corn crop in 50 years

France, the EU’s largest corn producer, may harvest its smallest crop in 50 years in the MY 2026/27 due to severe drought. According to FAS USDA, the country’s corn production is expected to fall by around 50% y/y to less than 7 mln tons.

The EU corn production forecast was also cut by 4% from the July estimate to 48.2 mln tons. This would be 15% below the MY 2025/26 level and could mark the smallest EU corn crop of the 21st century.

In France, five consecutive heatwaves and drought that began in May severely affected corn fields. Even irrigated areas, which account for around 34% of grain corn acreage, were hit by restrictions on irrigation. Yields are expected to fall below 6.5 t/ha, around 30% below the five-year average.

As domestic production declines, EU corn imports in 2026/27 are forecast at 23.2 mln tons, up 22% from the previous season and the highest level since 2018/19. With access to Ukrainian supplies constrained, the EU may increase purchases from the US and Brazil.

At the same time, EU corn consumption is forecast by FAS USDA to fall to 70.7 mln tons, the lowest level since 2012/13. Part of the shortfall may be covered by alternative feed grains.

Tags: weather conditions, corn, France, drought