Expana lifts EU wheat, abarley crop outlook, cuts maize

PARIS: Expana raised its forecasts for the European Union’s soft wheat and barley crops from last month, pointing to better conditions in parts of Europe as harvest nears.

In its latest cereals report, the commodity data firm projected 2026 soft wheat production at 128.8 million metric tons, up 0.1 million tons from its previous report but still 6percent below the 2025 crop. “As the ear cereal harvests approach in Europe, yield outlooks remain satisfactory, although still below the exceptional levels of 2025,” Expana said.

Very good harvests are expected in Romania, Bulgaria and, to a lesser degree, Spain, it said. Meanwhile, the return of rainfall in France and Germany allayed fears of drought stress.