The European Union granted export licences for 18.5 million tonnes of soft wheat in the 2010/2011 season that ended on June 30, up from 18.0 million cleared in 2009/2010, official data showed on Thursday. The final total for 2010/2011 season included June 29 and 30, which were not covered in the EU's previous export data issued last week.
European shipments in the past year have been boosted by export curbs in Russia and Ukraine following a drought-hit harvest, as well as by demand from importing countries facing food price inflation and civil unrest. The EU is expected to face stiffer competition in the new season as cheaper Russian grain returns to export markets, with international markets pressured this week by Jordan's purchase of Russian wheat and the inclusion of the origin in a latest tender by Egypt's state buyer.
France reinforced its position as the top EU wheat exporter, supported by a good-quality crop, as it claimed 10.5 million tonnes of export licences in 2010/2011, up from about 8 million in 2009/2010, the EU data showed. In contrast, No 2 EU exporter Germany, whose crop quality was hit by harvest rain last summer, saw its volume of licences drop to 3.2 million tonnes from around 5 million. The first weekly award of EU export licences for the 2011/2012 season that started on July 1 is due to be published later on Thursday.