France faces the worst wheat harvest in 40 years
Kyiv • UNN
The harvest of soft wheat in France this year will amount to 26.3 million tons, which is 24.9% less than in 2023. The harvest of barley, durum wheat and oats is also expected to be lost, but corn production will increase by 9%.
The largest grain producer in the European Union is on track for its worst harvest in decades, based on an estimate announced by the French Ministry of Agriculture on Friday.
Written by UNN with reference to Politico and Reuters.
Details
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this year's soft wheat harvest in France will be about 26.3 mln tonnes, which is 24.9% less than in 2023. The ministry also noted that the expected volume is one of the lowest in the last four decades.
For reference
Soft wheat is used to make cakes and bread, including the famous French baguette.
The price of a baguette, which is widely regarded as a benchmark for household inflation in France, has risen in recent years. This is due, among other things, to energy costs, which have risen sharply since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Other losses
Barley losses are also expected:
- 12.2% less than in 2019-2023;
- durum wheat harvest losses: minus 16.6%;
- Oats: minus 21.7 percent;
- losses of grape harvest in France are expected, although much more moderate.
However, things are looking better for corn: the French Ministry of Agriculture expects production to reach 13.75 million tons, up nine percent from 12.62 million tons in 2023.
