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Next articleVolgend Artikel

 28 jul 2016 16:36 

EU Maize Plantings Consolidate in 2016


Maize plantings for the 2016/17 crop year are over in the northern hemisphere. The USDA has confirmed a strong maize area increase in the U.S. (the first world maize producer), to 38,1 million hectares (up 7 percent from 2015), above the March estimate of 37,9 million hectares, despite the operators’ expectations as to a rebound of soybean plantings and a maize area limited at 37,6 million hectares.

Worldwide, 2016/17 maize plantings should trend upwards, mirroring a steady interest in the crop, alongside a still-rising demand. In the southern hemisphere, Argentinian farmers should expand their maize areas by more than 1 million hectares this autumn, due to the radical change in the country’s agricultural policy and its export tax removal measure.

Europe presents several trends. First, a 3-percent reduction in the EU-28 grain corn area, both in Western and Eastern Europe. Feed corn area is up slightly (about 1 percent), reflecting an enhanced activity in the livestock sector, as well as higher numbers in Northern Europe. The EU-28 maize area is thus estimated at around 14,7 million hectares in 2016, down 2 percent from 2015. On the other hand, maize is on the rise in Eastern Europe, with grain corn up 7 percent in Ukraine and Russia (to 4,5 and 3 million hectares, respectively). Given their recent currency devaluations, the two countries have improved their competitiveness and their maize export trade has been trending upwards.

As to maize seed production, the EU-28’s multiplication programme should reach about 135 000 hectares in 2016, continuing steady compared to 2015. The maize area distribution evens out slightly in favour of Hungary and Romania, going up 21 000 hectares (15 percent) and 20 000 hectares (19 percent), respectively, after the “net cutdowns” of 2015. However, France remains the top European maize seed producer, with 64 500 hectares envisaged for production in 2016/17, albeit marking a 7-percent drop from 2015/16. Yet the country continues to feature an important number of hybrids (1800), which will become available for the 2017 plantings.



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