Romania has harvested around seven million tonnes of wheat from 95 percent of its sown area and expects overall output near last year's 7.6 million tonnes, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Monday.
Romania, which is among the major cereal producers in the Black Sea region, had expected this year's wheat production to reach about 7.0 million tonnes but is likely to overshoot that forecast, the official said.
The harvest is likely to further boost the European Union candidate country's exports to traditional Middle East buyers.
The ministry said torrential rains in April, May and July and very high temperatures last month damaged wheat from about 150,000 hectares.
Romania was hit by its worst floods in 50 years. About 600,000 hectares of various crops including pasture and vegetables were destroyed.
The official said the average yield for wheat was around 3,000 kg per hectare. He said harvesting was due to be completed on Wednesday, when final crop data were to be released.
In the 2005/06 season Romania can export a duty-free consignment of up to 230,000 tonnes of wheat to EU member states.
In June Farm Minister Gheorghe Flutur said he planned to offer export bonuses of 10-12 euros per tonne for 290,000 tonnes of wheat for delivery to non-EU destinations.
The ministry has yet to approve the plan.
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