PARIS, FRANCE — French soft wheat exports in 2020-21 are forecasted lower due to weather, Reuters reported, citing FranceAgriMer data.

French soft wheat exports outside of the EU are now estimated at 6.6 million tonnes, down from an initial projection of 7.75 million tonnes and 51% below a record 13.46 million tonnes in 2019-20.

FranceAgriMer has been anticipating a steep drop in exports in 2020-21 after France’s wheat crop fell by around a quarter this year due to adverse weather, Reuters said.

It’s estimated France would ship between 1.5 million and 2.5 million tonnes to Algeria, far below the 5 million tonnes in previous years.

Sales to China should reach 1 million tonnes, possibly up to 2 million if French wheat remains competitive and China has increasing needs for human and feed use, Reuters said.

Exports to Morocco, another traditional market for French wheat, were estimated at around 1 million tonnes while West Africa was seen importing between 1 million and 1.5 million tonnes of the grain.

Expected soft wheat exports to other EU countries and Britain in 2020-21 were revised down to 6.4 million tonnes.

Soft wheat stocks at the end of this season are now projected at 2.9 million tonnes, compared with an initial forecast of 2.6 million.