European wheat prices eased on Thursday, weakened by a fall in Chicago and expectations that EU exports may slow in coming weeks, dealers said. Front month December on Paris-based Euronext milling wheat futures settled down 0.6% at 178.00 euros ($198.47) per tonne, extending its retreat from a three-month high of 182.25 euros a tonne hit last week.

"There were some good exports, activity in November and December could be quieter," a trader said. "If the (contract's) price falls below 177 euros we could slide towards 174 euros," he said, referring to chart analysis.

EU soft wheat exports have been running well ahead of last season's pace.

A cargo is due to load French wheat to China in the port of La Pallice next week, bringing the volume exported to the Asian giant this season to over 350,000 tonnes.

US grain and oilseed futures slipped on Thursday on expectations that weather conditions will turn more favourable for harvesting, giving a small break to farmers. May feed wheat futures in London ended down 0.7% at 146.75 pounds a tonne after climbing to a 2-1/2 month peak of 148.55 pounds earlier in the session.