- The corn harvest in France could fall by nearly 30%.
- The forecast for corn production in the EU has been lowered.
- Imports to Europe could reach 25–26 million metric tons.
Harvest prospects in France and the EU are clearly deteriorating
Only 29% of France’s corn crops are currently rated as good or very good. A year earlier, that figure was 65%, and the current condition of the crops is the worst it has been in 20 years.
EU corn production for the 2026/27 season is currently forecast at 52.7 million metric tons, down from the previous estimate of 57.2 million metric tons. In France, the harvest could fall to 9.4 million metric tons, a drop of nearly 30% compared to the previous season. At the same time, corn futures rose 4.4% over the week, to 262.75 euros per metric ton.
Europe will need more imported corn
With lower production in the EU, the importance of external supplies is growing. Estimates indicate that imports could reach 25–26 million metric tons.
Ukraine remains the natural source of supply, but attacks on port infrastructure are coinciding with a slowdown in export flows. In the near term, it will be worth monitoring the weather in late August, the progress of the harvest in France, and whether EU import demand will exceed 25 million metric tons.
