EU 2023/24 soft wheat exports reach 6.32 mln T, down 27% on year

Soft wheat exports from the European Union since the start of the 2023/24 season in July had reached 6.32 million metric tons by Sept. 17, down 27% from 8.7 million tons a year earlier, data published by the European Commission showed.

A breakdown of the data showed Romania remained the biggest EU soft wheat exporter so far in 2023/24, with 1.63 million tons shipped, followed by Poland with 1.25 million, France with 1.22 million, Bulgaria with 937,000 and Germany with 582,000.

EU wheat shipments this season have been curbed by massive exports of cheaper Russian supplies, though large sales of French wheat to China in the past week reported by traders suggest that European prices have become attractive.

EU barley exports totalled 1.87 million tons, down 11% from the 2.10 million tons exported in the corresponding period in 2022/23.

In imports, EU maize inflows were at 3.31 million tons, down 44% from 5.94 million tons.

Spain remained by far the largest EU maize importer so far in 2023/24, with 1.20 million tons, followed by the Netherlands (488,000 tons) and Italy (457,000 tons).

Grain shipments from war-torn Ukraine into the EU have complicated relations between the allies.

The EU’s executive decided on Friday to lift a temporary ban on sales of Ukrainian grain in five eastern EU states. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia then announced they would maintain the restrictions, triggering a complaint by Kyiv at the World Trade Organization.

Ukraine has also been the biggest soft wheat and barley supplier to the EU, accounting for more than half of overall flows so far this season.

Total EU soft wheat imports had reached 1.59 million tons, up 75%, while overall barley imports were at 595,000 tons, up 45%.

Tags: export, EU, wheat