BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The total grain crop in the EU-27 and the United Kingdom is estimated to increase to 304.4 million tonnes, according to the first forecast for the 2023 crop by COCERAL.

The 2022 crop totaled 285.1 million tonnes, COCERAL said.

Wheat production is estimated at 143.2 million tonnes, up from 140.7 million tonnes this year. Spain is expected to return to a normal year following a drought in 2022. Production there is estimated at 6.8 million tonnes, up from 5.1 million tonnes.

The EU-27 and UK 2023 barley production is forecast at 60 million tonnes, a small increase from 58.5 million tonnes in 2022.

The 2023 corn crop is now estimated at 64.5 million tonnes, compared to 50.7 million tonnes in 2022, with significant yield improvements in the Balkan countries, Hungary, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The rapeseed crop is forecast at 20.4 million tonnes in 2023 compared to 20.6 million tonnes in 2022, with the acreage increasing again, while yields are seen slightly down from this year.