EU Maize Imports At 13.4 Mln T July 2007-May 2008
(ANSA) -- The 27 European Union (EU) member countries imported a total 13.4 million tonnes of maize for the period July 2007 to May 2008, the latest official statistics of the EU, elaborated by the research office of Italian trade fair centre CremonaFiere, showed.
The member countries imported a total 5.1 million tonnes of maize for the period July 2006 to May 2007 and a total 2.4 million tonnes of maize for July 2005 to May 2006. The imports rose by 464 pct for the three-year period, the report also showed.
The sorghum imports of the EU countries stood at 49,000 tonnes in the period July 2005 to May 2006 and reached 5.3 million tonnes in the period July 2007 to May 2008.
According to CremonaFiere's research office regarding the marketing and sale campaign for the period July 2008 to May 2009, which started on July 1, 2008, the situation in the European grain markets will improve due to the expected increase in the domestic output determined by the growth of the planted areas. The grain planted areas in Europe increased to 59.9 million ha from 56.6 million ha, CremonaFiere's research office added. No further details were available.
New South Wales Sorghum Crop "Best For Many Years"
Production from sorghum crop being harvested in Australia's New South Wales to reach 796,000 metric tons, up from 426,000 tons in 2007, according to a Grains Report issued late yesterday by NSW Department of Primary Industries. Many areas experiencing best crops for many years.
Whilst a crop of this size may seem relatively unimportant to some, this year's sorghum crop is being closely watched by many as a barometer for the potential for the 2008 Australian wheat crop which could reach a record 27mmt according to many analysts.
With a domestic requirement of just 7mmt Australia are traditionally the world's second largest wheat exporter after the US.
The big sorghum crop comes in nick of time after droughts in 2006, 2007 resulted in a sharp contraction of national feedgrain stocks.
