BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — In its first forecast for the 2020 crop, Coceral sees the E.U. total grain crop at 302.7 million tonnes, down from the 2019 level of 308.9 million.

In its report, released Feb. 20, Coceral projects wheat production (excluding durum) at 137.9 million tonnes, down from last year’s 145.7 million. The expected decrease, Coceral said, is mainly due to a significant acreage reduction in France, Germany, Denmark and particularly the U.K. due to abundant rains during the planting season last fall. France, Denmark and the U.K. also are forecast to see lower yields than last year.

The E.U.’s 2020 barley production is forecast at 60.8 million tonnes, down from 62.2 million last year.  Coceral said this is mainly due to an expected return in winter barley yields from last year’s exceptionally good levels in France and the U.K. to average levels, which cannot be completely offset by higher spring barley areas and yields.

The E.U.’s 2020 corn crop is expected to reach 65 million tonnes and thus more than last year’s 61 million. The corn acreage is seen benefiting from the wet planting campaign for winter grains, Coceral said. It is therefore seen at 9 million hectares versus 8.5 million in 2019. Coceral said the most notable year-on-year increases in production are expected for France, Germany and Poland.

Coceral’s 2020 rapeseed production forecast for the E.U. stands at 17.1 million tonnes, which is only marginally higher than last year’s disappointing level of 16.7 million. France and Romania are expected to see a further decrease in acreage, whereas Germany should see a slight recovery from the very low level in 2019. E.U.-wide yields are seen only slightly better than last year, with improvements expected for Germany, France, and Romania, but lower levels for the U.K. and Denmark, according to Coceral.

Coceral represents the interests of the European trade in grains and oilseeds, feedstuffs, rice, olive oil, oils and fats and agro-supply towards the European Union and international institutions, international bodies and stakeholders.