By Oct. 1, sales to other EU member states were down 17 percent on last season's pace at 1.55 million tonnes while exports outside the 27-member bloc were down 33 percent on last season at 1.73 million tonnes.

The start of the export season in the leading European wheat producer and exporter was disrupted by a delay in harvest due to rain and strong competition from cheap Black Sea wheat.

However, French wheat exports outside the EU have accelerated in the past month. Last week they reached 2.99 million tonnes, Reuters data showed.

French barley exports continued to rise, up 26 percent on year by Oct. 1 at 1.4 million tonnes, of which 606,400 tonnes outside the EU, an increase of 180 percent compared to last year at the same time, helped by hefty sales to Saudi Arabia.

The French customs data also showed a rare shipment of 87,392 tonnes of barley to Iran.

Damage caused by drought to barley crops in Ukraine opened the door to European exports, notably French, on the world market.