PARIS: Consultancy Strategie Grains on Thursday again cut its forecast for this year's soft wheat harvest in the European Union and Britain, as poor crops in France and southeast Europe offset increased estimates for Poland and the Baltic countries.

In its monthly cereal report, the French firm lowered its 2020 soft wheat output forecast for the EU plus Britain to 128.0 million tonnes, 13% below an estimated 2019 crop of 147.2 million.

Strategie Grains has lowered its soft wheat production outlook for the EU plus Britain every month since its initial projection of 140.5 million tonnes last December.

Like other forecasters, it factored in a wet autumn and winter conditions that disrupted sowing, and dry spring weather that curbed yields.

The steep fall in production is set to slash EU exports after a record volume in 2019/20.

Strategie Grains reduced its forecast for 2020/21 soft wheat exports from the bloc and Britain to 23.1 million tonnes from 25.3 million, 12.5 million tonnes below last season's level.

That export downgrade mainly reflected a 2 million tonne cut to expected French shipments outside the EU to 7 million tonnes, down by nearly half from 2019/20.

For barley, Strategie Grains kept unchanged its harvest forecast for the EU and Britain at 64.2 million tonnes, up nearly 3% from last year.-Reuters