Coceral raises EU 2019 soft wheat, maize crop estimates

PARIS: Grain industry lobby Coceral on Tuesday raised its forecast of European Union soft wheat production in 2019, to 140.3 million tonnes (mn t) from 139.8mn t projected in its first estimate in March.

That compared with a drought-hit 2018, crop of 127.4mn t, data published on Coceral's website showed.

For other cereals, it cut its estimate of this year's EU barley crop to 59.0mn t from 59.4mn t in March, while its projection of EU maize (corn) production was raised to 62.9mn t from 61.0mn t.

In oilseeds, Coceral reduced its rapeseed production forecast to 17.9mn t from 18.5 mln t in March.