PARIS: Soufflet Agriculture, one of France’s biggest grain handlers, expects French soft wheat production of about 31.5 million to 32 million metric tons this year, with satisfactory yields in northern and eastern regions offsetting poor results in western zones worst hit by drought and heatwaves.
France, the European Union’s biggest grain producer, is in the process of harvesting soft wheat, its main cereal crop. Market participants are assessing the extent to which extreme weather may reduce output from last year’s 33.4 million tons.
Francois Pignolet, Soufflet’s head of procurement, said in a video update that the company had taken in about half of its expected harvest volume by July 1.
For soft wheat, improving yields as the harvest progresses have eased initial concerns that the crop might not reach 30 million tons. Milling wheat quality observed was good, with protein content well above 11percent and test weights of about 79 kg per hectolitre. Durum wheat was showing strong quality, with test weights nearly 80 kg and protein of 14.5percent to 15percent. The barley harvest was showing good malting quality.
For rapeseed, Soufflet has gathered about 60percent to 70percent of its crop and yields were improving after some poor early results.
Soufflet now projects French rapeseed production at 4.5 million to 4.6 million tons, against 4.6 million tons last year, after earlier expectations that the crop might drop to about 4.2 million tons.
Comments