EU crop monitor trims wheat, rapeseed yield outlook on mixed weather

PARIS, May 27 (Reuters) - The European Union crop monitoring service on Monday trimmed its outlook for this year's EU soft wheat and rapeseed yields while upping its forecasts for barley and maize as good prospects in Spain and Portugal contrasted with adverse conditions elsewhere.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?

The EU is collectively one of the world's largest crop producers and is a significant exporter of wheat and barley while a major importer of maize and oilseeds.

Harsh weather in top wheat exporter Russia has unsettled grain markets in recent weeks, sending European prices to a one-year high, and increasing sensitivity to possible harvest setbacks in other major production zones.

KEY QUOTES

"The yield forecast for winter crops further improved for Spain and Portugal, but was reduced for Italy and several countries of western Europe," MARS said in a monthly report.

"Wet conditions in large areas in western Europe, as well as in Denmark, and northern Italy, resulted in waterlogging, high pest pressure and/or delays to sowing, with potentially negative effects on crop yields."

BY THE NUMBERS

MARS trimmed its forecast for the average soft wheat yield in the EU this year to 5.92 metric tons per hectare (t/ha) from 5.93 t/ha forecast in April, and lowered its projection of the bloc's 2024 rapeseed yield to 3.21 t/ha from 3.26 t/ha forecast last month.

For barley, the expected overall EU yield, including both winter and spring barley, was raised to 5.13 t/ha from 5.11 t/ha, while the forecast EU grain maize (corn) yield was nudged up to 7.59 t/ha from 7.57 t/ha.

For sugar beet, the EU yield was projected at 75.4 t/ha, down from 75.5 t/ha expected in April.

All the yield forecasts remained above the average level of the past five years, MARS said.

CONTEXT

Spain is recovering from severe drought and expected to see cereal production rebound sharply. But torrential rain in northwest Europe has reduced planting and hampered plant development, including in top EU grain grower France. (Reporting by Gus Trompiz; Editing by Mark Potter)