EU WHEAT EXPORTS SLIP 11%
European Union soft wheat exports are down 11% to 15.84 million tonnes since the start of the 2023-24 season in July, Reuters reported, citing European Commission data. Romania was still the biggest EU soft wheat exporter so far in 2023-24, with 4.07 million tonnes shipped, followed by France with 3.36 million, Poland with 2.34 million, Bulgaria at 1.67 million and Lithuania at 1.49 million. EU wheat exports have been curbed by strong Russian competition, including in Algeria.
According to the Commission, the top five destinations for the EU’s soft wheat exports so far in 2023-24 were Morocco (2.24 million tonnes), Nigeria (1.54 million), Algeria (1.37 million), Egypt (1.28 million) and South Africa (796,282). EU barley exports totaled 3.17 million tonnes, up 3% from 2022-23, while EU maize imports were at 9.03 million tonnes, down 43% from a year earlier. For maize imports, Spain remained the largest EU buyer so far in 2023-24 with 3.95 million tonnes.
(Link: WorldGrain)
ROMANIAN PORT SEES RECORD GRAIN EXPORTS
The Port of Constanta in Romania reported record grain exports in 2023 due in part to a surge in shipments from Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing the port authority. Ukraine accounted for 14 million tonnes, or nearly 40% of the record total. The Romanian government, which signed an agreement in August to boost Ukraine’s grain exports through Romanian ports, has stated that it plans to increase export capacity for Ukrainian grain to 4 million tonnes per month. Ukraine has looked for any possible means to export its agricultural goods since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2023.
(Link: WorldGrain)
