COCERAL AGAIN LOWERS EU CROP FORECAST
COCERAL, a European association that focuses on agricultural trade, lowered its production forecast to 289.8 million tonnes in its latest projections for the 2023 European Union (EU) total grains crop, compared to its previous estimate of 296.7 million tonnes in June. The main reason is that the early dryness in the northern half of the EU has had a bigger impact than previously expected.
Crop estimates were lowered significantly for Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Latvia. Wheat production (excluding durum) is expected at 141 million tonnes, down from 142.4 million in the last forecast. Barley production for 2023 is forecast at 54.7 million tonnes, down from the June forecast of 56.6 million. The corn crop is now seen at 60.8 million tonnes, down from the previous forecast of 61.3 million but remaining stronger than last year’s crop which came in at just 52.7 million.
“France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria are forecast to see bigger crops after the 2022 crop had been affected by severe drought and heat,” COCERAL said. The rapeseed crop is seen at 20.4 million tonnes, compared to 21 million in the previous forecast.
(Link: WorldGrain)
MOLDOVA TO LIMIT UKRAINIAN GRAIN IMPORTS
Moldova will limit imports of grain from Ukraine to protect its farmers while still allowing transport to third countries, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Moldovan government. The government said a special license would be required for any supplies of wheat, corn, and sunflower seed from neighboring Ukraine.
“In consultations with Ukraine, the Moldovan side is introducing import licensing for sunflower seeds,” Kachka said on Facebook. Kachka said the measure was not intended as a ban on Ukrainian imports and was in line with Ukraine’s attempts to normalize grain trade with neighboring countries. Ukraine has been working with neighboring EU countries to introduce export licenses for a number of farm products as a compromise. Ukraine has exported 6.82 million tonnes of grain so far in the 2023-24 July-June season, down 24% from 8.99 million tonnes at the same time a year ago, according to the country’s agriculture ministry.
(Link: WorldGrain)
