BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) – European Union cereals production should reach 282.05 million tonnes in 2004, a bumper crop and a recovery from last year’s drought-ravaged harvest, the EU grains lobby Coceral said.
Soft wheat production was pegged at 123.95 million tonnes in the enlarged 25-nation bloc against a previous 98.37 million, while maize output would rise to 51.47 million from 38.6 million last year.
France, the EU’s cereals powerhouse, was expected to harvest 37.73 million tonnes of soft wheat, up from 29.18 million, and see its overall cereals production hit 69.11 million against the 54.52 million produced in 2003.
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Barley output in the 25-nation bloc was pegged at 61.12 million tonnes in 2004 compared to 54.05 million the previous year. Coceral forecast rye output at 9.9 million tonnes, up from last year’s 7.02 million.
Cereal output was also up in the 10 new member states.
Poland, the bloc’s largest new entrant, saw grain output at 28.92 million tonnes compared to 23.35 million in 2003. Poland is set to harvest 9.5 million tonnes of soft wheat in 2004, up from last year’s crop of 7.86 million.
Oilseed recovery
Coceral also forecast a rebound in oilseeds. The EU should turn out 19.22 million tonnes of oilseeds in 2004, up from 15.07 million last year.
Rapeseed production would rise to 14.86 million tonnes from an output of 10.98 million tonnes achieved by the bloc last year.
The 2003 cereals harvest in the former 15-nation bloc was hit hard by a summer drought, particularly in France, Spain and Portugal, sparking serious shortages in the feed market and raising prices.
With a bumper crop in the forecast for 2004, traders are facing the opposite problem this year with a glut of supply and tough export campaign.
The EU executive commission is taking a tough line as the harvest continues, refusing to reinstate export refunds.
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BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuters) – European Union cereals production should reach 282.05 million tonnes in 2004, a bumper crop and a recovery from last year’s drought-ravaged harvest, the EU grains lobby Coceral said.
Soft wheat production was pegged at 123.95 million tonnes in the enlarged 25-nation bloc against a previous 98.37 million, while maize output would rise to 51.47 million from 38.6 million last year.
France, the EU’s cereals powerhouse, was expected to harvest 37.73 million tonnes of soft wheat, up from 29.18 million, and see its overall cereals production hit 69.11 million against the 54.52 million produced in 2003.
Barley output in the 25-nation bloc was pegged at 61.12 million tonnes in 2004 compared to 54.05 million the previous year. Coceral forecast rye output at 9.9 million tonnes, up from last year’s 7.02 million.
Cereal output was also up in the 10 new member states.
Poland, the bloc’s largest new entrant, saw grain output at 28.92 million tonnes compared to 23.35 million in 2003. Poland is set to harvest 9.5 million tonnes of soft wheat in 2004, up from last year’s crop of 7.86 million.
Oilseed recovery
Coceral also forecast a rebound in oilseeds. The EU should turn out 19.22 million tonnes of oilseeds in 2004, up from 15.07 million last year.
Rapeseed production would rise to 14.86 million tonnes from an output of 10.98 million tonnes achieved by the bloc last year.
The 2003 cereals harvest in the former 15-nation bloc was hit hard by a summer drought, particularly in France, Spain and Portugal, sparking serious shortages in the feed market and raising prices.
With a bumper crop in the forecast for 2004, traders are facing the opposite problem this year with a glut of supply and tough export campaign.
The EU executive commission is taking a tough line as the harvest continues, refusing to reinstate export refunds.
