The European Union exported 1.01 million metric tons of soft wheat from the start of the 2026/27 marketing season in July through August 9, according to data released by the European Commission on Tuesday. This figure represents a sharp decline from the 2.36 million tons shipped during the same period in the previous season, an early signal for a marketing year in which global wheat trade flows are being closely watched after consecutive years of supply disruption and price volatility.

The EU is one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, and soft wheat — used primarily for bread, pastries, and animal feed — accounts for the majority of European production. The bloc competes primarily with Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, and Australia in global wheat export markets. The marketing year for EU grains typically begins on July 1.

Barley exports from the bloc reached 0.36 million tons during the same period, down significantly from 1.88 million tons recorded in the corresponding weeks of the 2025/26 season, according to the Commission's data.

On the import side, EU maize imports totaled 1.58 million tons in the period, compared with 1.26 million tons a year earlier. The EU is a major net importer of maize, sourcing significant volumes from countries such as Brazil, Ukraine, and the United States.

The Commission noted that grain export data remains incomplete for France — the EU's largest agricultural producer and historically its top wheat exporter — since the beginning of calendar year 2024. Data gaps also exist for Bulgaria and Ireland since the start of the 2023/24 marketing year, and for Greece since January 2026. The missing French figures in particular mean the reported export totals may understate actual shipments.

Source: Investing.com