- France’s grain corn harvest could fall to 7 million metric tons, the lowest level since 1976.
- The prolonged drought and record-breaking heat have hit non-irrigated crops the hardest.
- Revenues in the French corn sector could drop by 2.5 billion euros, and the government has prepared a 1.3 billion euro aid package.
- France will need large shipments of corn from abroad, primarily from Brazil and Ukraine.
Drought and heat have severely reduced the corn harvest
France may harvest as little as 7 million metric tons of grain corn this year, compared to 13.7 million metric tons the previous year. If the forecasts prove accurate, this will be the lowest harvest in 50 years. This sharp decline was caused by reduced planting areas and exceptionally harsh weather conditions. From May through August, record-breaking temperatures and a lack of rainfall negatively impacted crops in many parts of the country.
Fields without irrigation systems – which typically account for about one-third of France’s grain corn—were hit the hardest. The drought also reduced the quality of the harvest, resulting in a significant portion of the corn being classified as feed grain. The situation was further complicated by limited water storage capacity, even though the previous winter had been exceptionally rainy.
France will increase corn imports from Brazil and Ukraine
The smaller harvest poses serious financial problems for French farmers. Revenue from corn sales could drop by about 2.5 billion euros, which will also affect communities that rely primarily on agriculture. The government has prepared a €1.3 billion aid package and announced plans to increase water storage capacity. For many farms, however, access to the funds needed to start the next growing season remains the top priority.
France will have to import significant quantities of corn from abroad, mainly from Brazil and Ukraine. This is a major change for a country that has not previously needed to import on such a scale. Moreover, the problem is not limited to France alone. The drought has also reduced harvests in other parts of Europe, and the European Union’s additional import needs for the 2026/2027 season are estimated at 7 million metric tons. This means that supplies from outside the EU will play a greater role in covering corn shortages on the European market.
