The European Unions 2009 soft wheat harvest is expected to fall by 9 percent to 128.30 million tonnes from 140.96 million, EU grain trade lobby Coceral said on Friday in its first forecast for the year. The outlook was based on an estimated sowing area of 22.80 million hectares, down from 23.38 million in 2008, and a yield of 5.6 tonnes per hectare, down from 6.0.
In France, the EUs leading crop producer, soft wheat output was pegged at 35.50 million tonnes versus an estimated 37.33 million in 2008, while in Germany it was put at 23.96 million tonnes compared with 25.96 million. For barley, the EUs 27 countries are expected to harvest 61.27 million tonnes down from 65.79 million while maize will fall to 56.37 million tonnes from 60.84 million, Coceral said.
Combined output of all cereals would reach 286.44 million tonnes in 2009, versus 310.60 million estimated for 2008, it said. Cocerals 2008 output estimates were revised from projections it made in December, when it put the total cereals crop at 310.57 million tonnes, soft wheat at 141.06 million, barley at 65.73 million and maize crop at 60.84 million.