Brussels, 11/07/2006 (Agence Europe) - According to the estimates of Eurostat and the estimates submitted by the Member States on the harvests expected for 2006, areas under cereals have remained relatively stable. On the other hand, areas under sugar beet have decreased considerably owing to the application of the reform of the Common Market Organisation for sugar, while areas under rapeseed continue to increase as a result of the bio-diester outlets. This data was published on 7 July by Eurostat.
Cereals: surface area in cereals remain relatively stable at 51.2 million ha (i.e. -1% in comparison with 2005). Production is expected to increase by 1% and settle at 262.1 million t. France, the biggest cereal producer, is expecting production to total 63.7 million t, remaining relatively stable in comparison with 2005 (-0.5%). Spain and Portugal are to increase their cereals production by 29% (i.e. 17.1 million t and 0.9 million t respectively) in 2006 in comparison with 2005, an extremely dry year. However, production is expected to remain under the 2001-2005 average. Average yield for EU-25 is estimated at 50.3 quintals/hectare, against 49.5 quintals/hectare in 2005.
Common wheat: areas under common wheat are to remain relatively stable with production expected to increase slightly (116.2 million t, i.e. +1%). Average yield for EU-25 is to increase slightly against 2005 to reach 58.5 quintals/hectare.
Durum wheat: areas under durum wheat are expected to decrease again (-4%) to 3.5 million ha. This drop is due to a significant decrease in surface area in Spain (-12%, i.e. 0.8 million ha) and Italy (-4 %, i.e. less than 1.5 million ha). However, EU-25 production is to increase to 10.7 million t. In fact, average EU-25 yield is to increase in comparison with 2005 to 31.7 quintals/hectare.
Barley: a slight decrease in areas sown with barley is expected (-1%) to 12.9 million ha, while barley production is expected to increase by 10% to reach 57.9 million t. Spain, the third biggest producer of barley after Germany and France, is expected to double its production in comparison with 2005 (i.e. 9.3 million t). Average yield for EU-25 is to increase to 44.9 quintals/hectare.
Rye: areas under rye are to remain relatively stable (+1%, i.e. 2.5 million ha), whereas production will increase (+4%, i.e. 7.9 million t). Poland, the biggest producer of rye, is expected to increase its areas under rye (+6%)
Grain maize: a decrease of 3% is expected in areas sown. Production is therefore to fall by 8% to 46.8 million t. It is estimated that France, Italy and Hungary will account for more than 60% of grain maize production.
Sugar beets: Due to the reform of the Common Market Organisation for sugar for the current marketing year, areas sown with sugar beet are expected to decrease by 9% in EU to 2 million ha. France, Germany and Poland are to reduce their sown areas by 2%. Significant reductions are expected in Poland (-15%), Hungary (-34%) and Italy (-20%). The average production of the EU is estimated at 121.8 millions t, a fall of 6% compared to 2005. Average yield in the EU is estimated to stand at 598.2 quintals/hectare, a significant increase on last year.
Rapeseed: the increase in crude oil prices and the policies to encourage the production and use of biofuels such as biodiester, which is produced using rapeseed. It is therefore expected that the increase in areas sown with rapeseed will be confirmed: +15% against the 2001-2005 average (+5% in comparison with 2005), i.e. an unprecedented EU-25 area of 4.9 million ha. The biggest producers of rapeseed, namely Germany and France, are to increase their areas sown with rapeseed by 6% and 7%. In Denmark and Austria increases of 20% are expected and in Hungary an increase of 15% Romania is to double its area under rapeseed. EU production of rapeseed is estimated at 16.2 million t, i.e. an increase of 7% in comparison with 2005 production and of 26% in comparison with the 2001-2005 average.