France: December barley exports the lowest since 2009/10 season

French soft wheat shipments outside the European Union in December fell from a season's high the previous month as exports to China eased, an initial estimate based on Refinitiv data showed.

Soft wheat exports to destinations outside the EU totalled 797,000 tonnes in December, the sixth month of the 2020/21 season, the Refinitiv loading data showed.

That was below the 877,000 tonnes recorded in November, although December's total was still the second-largest so far this season.

China was the largest importer of French soft wheat outside the EU for a third straight month in December, accounting for 271,300 tonnes.

Including feed barley and malting barley, a total of 400,900 tonnes of grains was shipped to China from France last month, the lowest volume since September.

Algeria was the second-largest destination for French soft wheat in November with 213,300 tonnes shipped. Exports to Algeria, usually France's main overseas wheat market, continued to rebound after minimal volumes in October and September.

December's soft wheat exports also showed a downturn in flows to other countries outside the EU. Pakistan was the third-largest single-country destination with 66,000 tonnes.

Farm office FranceAgriMer last month raised its 2020/21 forecast for French soft wheat exports outside the EU for the third month in a row due to brisk demand, although it still expects exports to be just under half last season's record volume following a small French harvest.

December barley exports included 129,600 tonnes of feed barley - all to China - and 12,200 tonnes of malting barley, the lowest for a December since the 2009/10 season, the data showed.

Total grain shipments by sea to all destinations from French ports - also including maize, waxy maize and durum wheat - reached 1.14 million tonnes in December, a four year low.

The Refinitiv data, based on shipping data from various sources, can be revised subsequently and can also differ from later customs figures due to when ships are counted as leaving France.

07 January, 2021