France exported 1.25 million tonnes of soft wheat in July, down 7 percent in the first month of the 2011/12 season compared with 1.34 million a year ago, customs data showed on Monday, due to competition from Russia. Exports outside the European Union reached 717,451 tonnes, down 6 percent from 764,314 tonnes a year earlier, while shipments within the EU came to 528,059 tonnes, a fall of 9 percent from 578,068 tonnes in July 2010.
French wheat exports so far this season have been curbed by large volumes shipped by Russia, which lifted in July a grain export ban it had imposed in August 2010 in response to a drought that ravaged crops. Russia's absence from export markets for most of the 2010/11 season helped French exports rise 14 percent year-on-year to 19.6 million tonnes, including a record 12.9 million tonnes shipped outside the EU.
Algeria was the main destination for French wheat exports in July, with 498,272 tonnes shipped, up from 324,572 tonnes in the year-earlier month. France shipped no wheat to Egypt, the world's top importer which has bought Russian wheat heavily since July, compared with 63,000 tonnes exported in July 2010, the customs data showed.
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