PARIS: Soft wheat exports from the European Union and Britain in the 2020/21 season that started in July are catching up with last season's record pace, EU data showed on Monday, highlighting brisk demand for a reduced 2021 harvest. The EU's 27 countries plus former member Britain had exported 11.61 million tonnes of soft wheat by Dec. 13, down 17% versus the same week last year the European Commission's weekly data showed.

That was the smallest deficit so far this season. Strong interest from China has led demand for France's official soft wheat exports, despite a steep drop in harvest supply, and northern European exporters, including Germany and Poland have also seen brisk shipments, partly because of less competition than expected from Russia.

Algeria, traditionally the largest buyer of EU wheat, remained the top destination with 2.28 million tonnes exported so far this season, although this was 6.2% below the same time a year ago, the data showed. China was the second-largest outlet with 1.36 million tonnes, up 64%, just ahead of Saudi Arabia with 1.32 million, down 24%.

Nigeria was the next-biggest destination with 865,000 tonnes shipped, more than double a year-earlier when the figure was 350,000 tonnes. Among EU countries, France was the largest soft wheat exporter with 3.05 million tonnes shipped so far in 2020/21, followed by Lithuania with 1.94 million and Latvia with 1.60 million, the data showed.

EU and British 2020/21 barley exports reached 3.48 million tonnes, down 8%.

China was the largest barley export destination with 1.32 million tonnes shipped, slightly ahead of Saudi Arabia with 1.14 million.

Maize imports into the EU and Britain stood at 7.56 million tonnes, down 23%.

Brazilian maize dominated with 4.25 million tonnes supplied, well ahead of Ukrainian shipments that had dropped by 57% to 1.79 million. The European Commission still includes Britain in grain export and import data despite Britain's exit from the bloc this year.