BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — COCERAL, in its third forecast of the 2020 season, projects the total grain crops in the EU (including the UK) at 299.2 million tonnes, down from 301.8 million tonnes that was projected in March.

The new projection is also down from the 2019 crop output of 311.8 million tonnes.

Wheat production (excluding durum) is seen at 129.7 million tonnes, down from 135.4 million tonnes earlier this year, and from last year’s 146.8 million tonnes. COCERAL said the downward revision is mainly due to a significant yield reduction in France, Germany and Denmark due to dryness.

The EU’s 2020 barley production is now forecast at 63.4 million tonnes, up from the 61.5 million tonnes seen in the previous forecast and from the 62.1 million tonnes last year. The upward revision reflects a higher-than-previously expected crop in Spain.

The EU’s 2020 corn crop is revised up to 66.8 million tonnes from the previous forecast of 65.5 million tonnes. Last year’s crop was at 64.9 million tonnes.

COCERAL said the corn acreage is seen benefiting from the wet planting campaign for winter grains. It is therefore seen at 9.2 million hectares versus 8.6 million hectares in 2019. The most notable year-on-year increases in production are expected for France and Germany.

The EU’s 2020 rapeseed production forecast has been revised down to 16.5 million tonnes from 17 million tonnes, mainly due to further downward revisions in Germany, France, the UK, and Romania. Last year’s crop stood at 16.9 million tonnes.

COCERAL is the European association representing the trade in cereals, rice, feedstuffs, oilseeds, olive oil, oils and fats and agrosupply.