Strategie Grains cuts EU sunseed and rapeseed crop forecasts

Strategie Grains has lowered its forecast for the current sunseed crop in the European Union, mainly due to poor weather in Eastern Europe, and also lowered its estimate for the rapeseed crop for the fifth consecutive month. Forecasts for next season have improved, with the first estimates of planted acreage pointing to a 4% increase in canola acreage, while sunflower and soybean acreage will remain stable, according to Strategie Grains. The consultancy expects the 2024 sunflower seed crop in the 27-country bloc to reach 8.9 million tons, down 400,000 tons from the forecast a month earlier and 9.8 million tons harvested in 2023. “Catastrophic sunflower yields are confirmed as harvest progresses, with yields in Bulgaria and Romania expected to be the lowest in 15 years,” the consultancy said in its report. “The situation in Hungary is also disappointing, with yields across the country expected to be down 5% compared to the five-year average. In France, delayed crop development will ...