Protein readings in the early stages of this year's wheat harvest in France were improving after initial samples on the west coast showed levels below export requirements, grain group Soufflet said on Wednesday. France, the European Union's largest wheat producer, is widely expected gather a larger crop this year but grain quality, as measured by criteria including protein content, is also crucial to secure sales to foreign milling customers.

"If the first batches of incoming wheat in very localised parts of southwest France show protein below 11%, the harvest's progress towards central France is showing higher quality, with protein levels ranging from 11.5% to 12%," Soufflet said in a statement.

The family-owned firm, one of France's largest grain handlers and exporters, said it was too early to draw conclusions about the overall French crop.

Traders have said the relatively low protein readings, an effect of very strong yields, have led to cheaper animal-feed wheat prices being quoted at the west coast port of La Pallice, predominantly a milling wheat export zone.

Francois Berson, head of grain procurement, said in a video posted on Soufflet's Twitter account earlier on Wednesday that early results on the west coast had shown protein of 10.7-10.8%, below the 11% minimum usually required for overseas milling wheat markets.

Copyright Reuters, 2019