French soft wheat exports to January 1, halfway through the July-June season, stood at 7.83 million tonnes, 10 percent up on last season, customs data published on Thursday showed. Exports to countries outside the European Union were some 40 percent higher at 3.7 million tonnes and sales to other EU countries were at 4.2 million, seven percent lower than at the same time last season. Egypt remained the main destination, with 1.14 million tonnes, followed by Algeria with 885,000 tonnes shipped since the start of the season on July 1.

Last season, when a drought in Europe cut the wheat crop, exports to these destinations were far lower.

For barley, exports remained below last season, but the fall, at two percent, was not as great as the six percent difference seen on December 1. Exports by January 1 were at 2.24 million tonnes, with just over 170,000 heading outside the EU.

Copyright Reuters, 2005