FAVORABLE WEATHER BOOSTS BULGARIAN CROPS
Thanks to favorable weather, Bulgaria is anticipating increased production of both winter and spring grains in the 2024-25 marketing year. Strong yields are expected to offset a 4% decline in planted area for wheat, with FAS forecasting output at 6.9 million tonnes, up slightly from the previous year. Wheat exports are projected to reach 5.2 million tonnes in the 2023-24 marketing year, which ends June 30. Increased interest in barley has led to a 36% increase in planted area and a projected production increase of 7% to 850,000 tonnes.
As of May 31, barley exports reached 436,000 tonnes, or more than double than a year ago. The biggest production increase is expected in corn, with FAS projecting a crop of 2.8 million tonnes, up from 2.4 million in 2023-24. Unlike wheat and barley, corn exports are seen declining significantly in 2023-24, falling 34% to 900,000 tonnes.
(Link: WorldGrain)
UKRAINE RAISES GRAIN PRODUCTION FORECAST
Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture announced on June 14 that it has raised its grain production forecast by 7% for the upcoming 2024-25 marketing year, which begins July 1. Taras Vysotskiy, acting minister of agriculture, said in a press release that output in the war-torn nation was revised higher to 56 million tonnes, compared to 52.6 tonnes in the previous estimate. The projection includes 21 million tonnes of wheat, 28.5 million tonnes of corn and 5 million tonnes of barley. He also noted that total agricultural exports, which includes grains, oils and oilseeds, are expected to surpass 60 million tonnes. That total would include 25 million tonnes of corn and 15 million tonnes of wheat.
(Link: WorldGrain)
