Maize, wheat yields in most SEE EU states seen above avg in ’23

Maize and wheat yields in most of the five EU member states in Southeast Europe (SEE) in 2023 are projected above the weak five-year average, the European Commission said.

Sunflower yield is seen to worsen due to drier-than-usual conditions across Europe, including in eastern Romania, the EU’s main sunflower-producing country, the EU Commission said in its most recent crop monitoring report published last month.

Romania is expected to post the highest annual jump in maize yield out of the five EU member states in SEE, with an increase of 67% to 5.03 tonnes per hectare. Double-digit yearly growth is also expected in Bulgaria – to 6.74 t/ha, in Croatia – to 8.66 t/ha, and in Slovenia – to 9.8 t/ha. In Greece it will be 17% higher than a year ago, at 11.4 t/ha.

This year’s total wheat yield is seen to rise in both annual and five-year terms in Bulgaria – to 5.47 t/ha, Romania – 4.73 t/ha, Slovenia – 5.55 t/ha, and Greece – 3.07 t/ha. By contrast, the wheat yield is estimated to decline in Croatia, to 5.52 t/ha.

Sunflower yield in Romania is forecast to grow by 12% on the year to 2.16 t/ha while in Bulgaria, it will be 6% higher at 2.44 t/ha, data in the report showed. However, the overall yield outlook for sunflower in Europe underwent the highest monthly downward revision, to 5% below the five-year average, chiefly due to a projected five-year drop of 11% in Romania.

The yield of rapeseed is forecast to grow in Bulgaria by 13% on the year to 2.6 t/ha, remaining flattish based on the five-year average. Romania and Croatia are set for above-average rapeseed yields, with 2.83 t/ha and 2.89 t/ha respectively, the report also showed.

Below are details on pct changes for 2023 yields of the four agricultural crops for the individual EU members states from SEE.

Tags: forecast, maize, Croatia, Bulgaria, Southeast Europe, sunflower, Romania, EU, wheat, European Commission, yields, rapeseed