Wheat exports from the European Union fell by 22%

From the beginning of the current season to October 15, the EU countries exported 8.81 mln tonnes of soft wheat, which is 22% less compared to the same period last season. Barley exports from the EU decreased by 10% to 2.31 million tons. This was reported by the European Commission.

Romania remains the largest exporter of soft wheat among the EU countries (2.48 mln tonnes). It is followed by France (1.78 mln tonnes), Poland (1.58 mln tonnes), Bulgaria (937 thsd tonnes) and Lithuania (763 thsd tonnes).

In the current season, European wheat sales were hampered by competition with the cheapest Russian grain. However, recent sales of French wheat to China could boost exports in the coming months.

The main buyers of the European soft wheat in the current season are Morocco (1 530 thsd tonnes), Nigeria (960 thsd tonnes), Algeria (783 thsd tonnes), South Africa (543 thsd tonnes) and South Korea (452 thsd tonnes).

Imports of soft wheat, on the contrary, increased by 45% to 2.42 mln tonnes during the reporting period. Spain, which suffered from the drought, became the largest importer (1.31 mln tons).

Imports of durum wheat reached 886 thsd tonnes, which is five times higher than last year, as EU countries compensate for this year’s poor durum harvest with imports.

Tags: wheat, export, grain, barley, EU