The Rain In Spain

Posted by Nogger - a legend in his own mind at 08:43 | Categorized as

29/07/13 -- Has been falling mainly where there's grain it would seem, for our Spanish chums are in for their largest grain crop in more than 20 years, according to the local Cooperatives Agro-Alimentarias Group.

In a country dogged by habitual drought an unseasonably wet winter, followed by the 5th wettest spring since 1947, means that this year's grain harvest could soar 54% to 23.9 MMT this year, they say.

They have the Spanish soft wheat crop at 6.92 MMT, which combined with durum output of 1.01 MMT makes for an all wheat crop of 7.94 MMT up by two thirds compared to output of only 4.76 MMT last year.

Spring barley production, of which Spain is Europe's largest grower, will rise almost 74% to 9.83 MMT, whilst corn output is seen  increasing by a more modest 13.6% to 4.33 MMT, they add.

Both the wheat and barley production estimates are well above the USDA's current forecasts of 6.90 MMT and 8.40 MMT respectively.

The rain may be a mixed blessing though, with low protein potentially a problem in the north of the country.

Spain of course are generally a major soft wheat importer, and in a "normal" year would be the UK's largest wheat buyer.