French soft wheat shipments hit new season high in November

French soft wheat shipments outside the European Union set a new season’s high in November, supported by rebounding exports to Algeria and more large volumes to China, an initial estimate based on Refinitiv data showed.

Soft wheat exports to destinations outside the EU totalled 877,000 tonnes in November, the fifth month of the 2020/21 season, the Refinitiv loading data showed.

That was above the 703,000 tonnes recorded in October that had been the highest monthly volume for the season that started in July.

China was the largest importer of French soft wheat outside the EU for a second straight month in November, accounting for 331,800 tonnes.

Including feed barley and malting barley, a total of 520,000 tonnes of grains was shipped to China from France last month.

Algeria was the second-largest destination for French soft wheat in November with 155,000 tonnes shipped. Exports to Algeria, usually France’s main overseas wheat market, rebounded after minimal volumes in October and September.

November’s soft wheat exports also included an upturn in flows to Morocco, with 94,800 tonnes sent after zero in October, and a first shipment of the season to Egypt, with a 63,000 tonne cargo.

Farm office FranceAgriMer last month raised its 2020/21 forecast for French soft wheat exports outside the EU for the second month in a row due to brisk demand, although it still expects exports to be just over half last season’s record volume following a small French harvest.

November barley exports included 132,000 tonnes of feed barley – almost all to China – and 83,000 tonnes of malting barley, the highest for a November on record, the data showed.

Total grain shipments by sea to all destinations from French ports – also including maize, waxy maize and durum wheat – reached 1.34 million tonnes in November, just below last year’s volume of 1.37 million tonnes.

The Refinitiv data, based on shipping data from various sources, can be revised subsequently.

Reuters

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