EU-15: 2003 Oilseed and Rice Forecast by Country

Rapeseed Production Down from 2002

Area Increase Does Not Compensate for Lower Yield

European Union (EU-15) rapeseed production is forecast to be 9.0 million tons in 2003, down from from 9.3 million tons last year. Area in France and the United Kingdom is expected to increase from 2002, while area in Germany remains nearly unchanged, resulting in a year-to-year increase of 150,000 hectares. Rapeseed yield is expected to be above the five-year average in the United Kingdom, but below average in France and Germany. Sunflowerseed production is forecast to be higher than 2002 because of an area increase, and higher yields are predicted to boost 2003 soybean production. Cottonseed production is forecast to remain nearly unchanged.

Winter crop planting conditions were generally favorable in western Europe last autumn, with the exception of excessive moisture in southern Germany. In January and February, extremely cold temperatures combined with a lack of snow cover in northern France and northern Germany, damaging dormant winter rapeseed. In some places, plant populations were reduced and farmers replanted fields with lower yielding spring varieties. Dry weather and above normal temperatures in March and April, followed by a June heat wave took a toll on rapeseed fields in France and Germany. Conditions in the United Kingdom have been generally favorable this year.

Rapeseed, Sunflowerseed, Soybean and Cottonseed Statistics

The table below represents the details of the official USDA EU-15 oilseed totals. It is provided as a courtesy to USDA customers and the numbers are listed separately to allow greater understanding of oilseed production in the European Union.

EU-15		Rapeseed		Sunflowerseed		Soybeans		Cottonseed
	Country Name	2002	2003	2002	2003	2002	2003	2002	2003
Area Harvested 1000 hectares	Austria	55	50	19	20	14	15	0	0
	Bel/Lux	5	7	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Denmark	84	130	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Finland	67	70	0	0	0	0	0	0
	France	1048	1080	614	660	75	73	0	0
	Germany	1297	1295	26	35	1	1	0	0
	Greece	0	0	17	15	0	0	367	365
	Ireland	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Italy	10	10	167	170	152	160	1	1
	Netherlands	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Portugal	0	0	37	30	0	0	0	0
	Spain	6	5	754	780	1	1	85	85
	Sweden	67	60	0	0	0	0	0	0
	UK	432	510	0	0	0	0	0	0
Yield tons/hectare	Austria	2.33	2.00	2.74	2.50	2.50	2.33	0.00	0.00
	Bel/Lux	3.60	3.29	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Denmark	2.60	2.77	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Finland	1.55	1.43	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	France	3.21	2.78	2.44	2.27	2.72	2.88	0.00	0.00
	Germany	2.96	2.78	2.00	2.57	2.00	2.00	0.00	0.00
	Greece	0.00	0.00	1.41	1.67	0.00	0.00	1.48	1.47
	Ireland	3.50	2.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Italy	1.30	1.00	2.10	2.18	3.72	3.75	1.00	1.00
	Netherlands	2.00	2.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Portugal	0.00	0.00	0.54	0.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Spain	1.67	2.00	1.00	1.09	1.00	3.00	1.29	1.29
	Sweden	2.37	2.33	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	UK	3.40	3.24	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Production 1000 tons	Austria	128	100	52	50	35	35	0	0
	Bel/Lux	18	23	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Denmark	218	360	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Finland	104	100	0	0	0	0	0	0
	France	3369	3000	1496	1500	204	210	0	0
	Germany	3833	3600	52	90	2	2	0	0
	Greece	0	0	24	25	0	0	542	537
	Ireland	7	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Italy	13	10	351	370	566	600	1	1
	Netherlands	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Portugal	0	0	20	15	0	0	0	0
	Spain	10	10	757	850	1	3	110	110
	Sweden	159	140	0	0	0	0	0	0
	UK	1468	1650	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total Area Harvested	EU-15	3074	3220	1634	1710	243	250	453	451
Total Yield	EU-15	3.03	2.80	1.68	1.70	3.33	3.40	1.44	1.44
Total Production	EU-15	9329	9000	2752	2900	808	850	653	648

Rice Production Down from 2002

Lower Yields Forecast in Southern Europe

Rice production in 2003 is forecast to be 1.625 million tons (milled), a decrease of 81,000 tons from last year. At 400,000 hectares, area is expected to be nearly unchanged, and yield is below the 5 year average. Weather in the rice producing countries of southern Europe has been dry and hot so far this summer, which could have an adverse effect on the rice crop.

The table below represents the details of the official USDA EU-15 rice totals. It is provided as a courtesy to USDA customers and the numbers are listed separately to allow greater understanding of rice production in the European Union.

EU-15		Rice
	Country Name	2002	2003
Area Harvested 1000 hectares	France	19	20
	Greece	20	20
	Italy	220	220
	Portugal	25	25
	Spain	113	115
Yield (Rough) tons/hectare	France	5.53	5.00
	Greece	8.00	8.00
	Italy	6.36	5.91
	Portugal	5.88	5.60
	Spain	7.22	6.96
Production (Milled) 1000 tons	France	63	60
	Greece	104	104
	Italy	865	803
	Portugal	103	98
	Spain	571	560
Total Area Harvested	EU-15	397	400
Total Yield (Rough)	EU-15	4.30	4.06
Total Production (Milled)	EU-15	1706	1625

Other USDA Resources on the Internet

Web Updates

Germany: Field Travel Reveals Conditions and Trends, 6/19/03
EU-15: Grain Forecast by Country, 5/13/03
EU Enlargement: Eastern Germany Crop Yield Increases Herald Changes in Central Europe, 1/13/03

Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) Reports

European Union, Grain and Feed Annual 2003, E23086, 6/2/03
European Union, Grain and Feed Semi-Annual 2003, E23001, 1/6/03

Interactive Tools

For crop conditions in the European Union and throughout the world, visit Crop Explorer

For current and historical official USDA data on production, supply and distribution of agricultural commodities for the European Union and much of the world, visit PS&D Online

For more information, contact Jim Tringe james.tringe@usda.gov
with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division, at (202)720-0882


Updated: September 05, 2003	Write us: Pecadinfo@fas.usda.gov	Index \| \| FAS Home \| USDA \|