The European Union is expected to fall short of its usual status as a net exporter of grain for the current marketing year, according to the EU Commission.

The decline in exports, which dropped by 6.25 million tons or 31.0% year-on-year, is primarily attributed to weaker wheat exports due to a poor harvest in France. Specifically, EU wheat exports decreased by 4.30 million tons or 30.2%. Additionally, barley and maize exports experienced even steeper declines, with barley exports down 1.17 million tons or 38.2% to 1.89 million tons, and maize sales plummeting by 770,000 tons or 51.0% to 740,000 tons.

On the import side, the EU saw a reduction in wheat and barley imports, which were offset by an increase in maize purchases. Wheat imports, including flour, decreased by approximately 950,000 tons or 17.2% to 4.55 million tons, while barley imports fell by 435,000 tons or 42.0% to 601,000 tons. Conversely, maize imports from third countries increased by 790,000 tons or 10.3% to 8.51 million tons.

• Export licenses for 13.91 million tons of grain, including flour and malt, were issued.
• Import licenses reached 13.68 million tons.
• This results in a net export surplus of only 230,000 tons, a significant decrease from the 5.76 million tons surplus during the same period last year.