French customs figures reveal unprecedented performance in the cereal sector: 11 billion euros of cereals exported in 2022 against 6.6 billion the year before, almost twice as much in value. A record figure essentially linked to the increase in cereal prices, following the war in Ukraine.
But prices do not explain everything, France has also increased its export volumes. In particular those of soft wheat: exports jumped 25% over the calendar year, according to Intercéreales, the French cereals interprofession.
Morocco very dependent this year on its imports
The start of the 2022 campaign was particularly rapid with strong demand from France’s historical customers: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and even China, which is still in high demand for cereals to feed its livestock.
Some like Algeria and Egypt suffered directly from the drop in supply from Russia and Ukraine, and had to seek supplies elsewhere, and therefore bought more from France.
Morocco, which usually meets half of its wheat needs, suffered enormously from the drought and found itself much more dependent on its imports. Purchases of French wheat were almost multiplied by ten in the first months of the campaign compared to last year. France thus exported 1.6 million tonnes of wheat to Morocco over the first 5 months of the 2022/23 campaign against only 0.14 million tonnes over the 2021/22 campaign.
Global disruptions have also allowed France to reconnect with episodic partners such as Pakistan or Yemen. Barley exports have also consolidated to Saudi Arabia, which is very demanding of feed quality.
France as a sustainable alternative to the Black Sea?
It is difficult to say whether these “new” markets will last. ” The answer will first depend on the availability of French wheat for the next campaign. “, explains Philippe Heusele spokesperson for Intercéreales on export issues. The interprofession hopes that France will have the ability to position itself sustainably as an alternative to grains from the Black Sea.
In this table, however, one grain is an exception: corn. France only exported to its European neighbors for lack of sufficient harvest. Following last summer’s drought, Europe will this year be by far the world’s leading corn importer, ahead of China.