Soft wheat exports from France's ports reached a 7-year high in December despite the ongoing strikes in the transport industry, which led to disruptions lasting several days.
In December, 1.34 million tons of wheat were exported, the largest volume in December since 2013, when 1.41 million tons were exported.
The second-largest French soft wheat harvest overall, less competition from Russia and an unusual number of French wheat sales to China were responsible for the increase.
Exports to non-EU countries reached 1.22 million tons in December, the largest volume in 4 years. In December 2018, 904,000 tons of wheat were exported to non-EU countries. Algeria was the largest buyer of French wheat in December with 477,000 tons of wheat, but exports fell compared to December 2018 (563,000 tons).
Chin increased its wheat imports in 2019 to 235,000 tons (previous year: 105,000 tons). Morocco increased its exports by 33,000 tonnes to 98,000 tonnes.
In Rouen, where trade unionists organized several strike actions as part of a nationwide protest against the pension reform, more than 755,000 tonnes were loaded onto 29 ships.
Wheat exports outside the European Union amounted to 5.13 million tons halfway through the current season, less than half of the 12.2 million tons forecast by FranceAgriMer for the season.
A total of 1.7 million tons of grain was exported from French ports in December. A record volume that even surpasses the previous record from 2013 of 1.69 million tons.
Source
HANSA Terminhandel
