EU: 2022-23 barley exports total 5.93 mln tonnes to-date

Soft wheat exports from the European Union in the 2022/23 season that began in July totaled 28.40 million tonnes as of May 27, up 11% from 25.47 million a year earlier, data published by the European Commission showed on May 31.

EU barley exports so far in 2022/23 total 5.93 million tonnes, down 13% from 6.84 million a year earlier, while maize imports total 24.34 million tonnes, up 61% from 15.14 million a year earlier.

Soft wheat imports stood at 8.23 million tonnes, up 243% over the previous year, while barley imports stood at 1.91 million tonnes, up 119% over the previous year.

EU grain imports have soared after last year’s drought-hit harvest and temporary restrictions on shipments to eastern EU countries amid an influx of grain from Ukraine.

A breakdown of EU data shows that France remains the largest exporter of soft wheat this season, with 9.67 million tonnes, followed by Romania with 4.05 million, Germany with 3.61 million, Lithuania with 2.60 million, and Latvia, with 2.22 million.

According to the data, Spain remained the main importer of maize in the EU with 8.03 million tonnes, ahead of the Netherlands with 2.80 million tonnes, Italy with 2.52 million, Portugal with 1.85 million and Hungary with 1.63 million.