June 16, 2004

EU-25: 2004/05 Oilseed and Cotton Estimates by Country

Oilseed Production Up from 2003/04

This report provides further background on USDA official estimates released June 10, 2004.

Rapeseed Area Increase and Yield Improvement from Last Year

USDA estimates 2004/05 European Union (EU-25) rapeseed production at 12.6 million tons, 1.6 million or 15 percent above last year's crop. Harvested area is estimated at 4.4 million hectares, 0.31 million or 8 percent more than 2003/04. The yield for this year's crop is estimated to be 2.86 tons per hectare, substantially above last year's level of 2.69 tons per hectare.

The yield outlook for rapeseed in western Europe (formerly EU-15) is good to very good, although winter rapeseed planting conditions were not ideal last fall.  Winter rapeseed has a narrow planting window--roughly the last weeks of August and the first weeks of September.  There were reports of some dryness in Germany, and reports of more serious dryness and emergence problems in the United Kingdom (UK).  There was virtually no winterkill this year, compared to 2003/04 when the area may have been reduced by as much as 5 percent in France and Germany.

The 2004/05 rapeseed crop in the European Union New Member States (NMS-10) is forecast to be dramatically better than last year's crop.  Unlike the 2003/04 crop which experienced the harshest winter in years, the 2004/05 crop enjoyed a mild winter with minimal winterkill.  In addition to the beneficial weather, higher planted area can also be attributed to the anticipated increase of oilseed profitability in the EU, as well as the government's push for more biofuel usage.  The average NMS-10 rapeseed yield is roughly two-thirds of the EU-15 yield, and about one-quarter of the EU-25 rapeseed area is in the NMS-10.

Other oilseed production, including soybeans, sunflowerseed, lint cotton (and cottonseed) are relatively unchanged from last year.  In general, yield improvements are offsetting slight area decreases.  Oilseed area in western Europe has been steady in recent years after a sharp decline when the EU eliminated the "oilseed premium" by harmonizing payments to farmers for grain and oilseed production.  In central Europe, the oilseed area trend has been steadily upward.

Rapeseed, Soybean and Sunflowerseed Statistics

The table below represents the details of the official USDA EU-25 oilseed totals.  It is provided as a courtesy to USDA customers and the numbers are listed separately to allow greater understanding of oilseed production in the European Union.

Download tables as Excel spreadsheet - Download tables as pdf

Cotton and Cottonseed Statistics

The table below represents the details of the official USDA EU-25 cotton and cottonseed totals.  It is provided as a courtesy to USDA customers and the numbers are listed separately to allow greater understanding of cotton production in the European Union.

Download tables as Excel spreadsheet - Download tables as pdf -

Other USDA Resources on the Internet

Web Updates

EU-25:  Grain Forecast by Country, 5/24/04
Central Europe:  Winter Wrap-up, 3/18/2004
EU-15:  Grain Forecast by Country, 2/11/04
EU-15:  Winter Update, 12/17/03
NASA Earth Observatory: Fall Crops Fail to Emerge in UK, 12/2/03
EU-15:  Grain Forecast by Country, 11/13/03
Rapeseed Production May Benefit from New EU Directive, 11/4/03
EU-15:  Cotton Production Summary, 10/2/03
EU-15:  Biodiesel Industry Expanding Use of Oilseeds, 9/23/03
EU-15:  Summer Crops Suffer from Heat and Drought, 9/12/03
EU-15:  Grain Forecast by Country, 8/13/03
EU-15:  Oilseed and Rice Forecast by Country, 7/14/03
Germany:  Field Travel Reveals Conditions and Trends, 6/19/03
EU-15:  Grain Forecast by Country, 5/13/03
EU Enlargement:  Eastern Germany Crop Yield Increases Herald Changes in Central Europe, 1/13/03

Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) Reports

European Union, Grain and Feed Annual, 2004, E34011 (pdf), 5/17/04
European Union, Grain and Feed Semi-Annual, 2003, E23239 (pdf), 12/11/03
European Union, Oilseeds and Products Annual, 2003, E23144 (pdf), 8/1/03
European Union, Grain and Feed Annual 2003, E23086 (pdf), 6/2/03
European Union, Grain and Feed Semi-Annual 2003, E23001 (pdf), 1/6/03

Foreign Agricultural Service U.S. Mission to the European Union

Homepage

For crop conditions in the European Union and throughout the world, visit Crop Explorer

For current and historical official USDA data on production, supply and distribution of agricultural commodities for the European Union and much of the world, visit PS&D Online

For more information on the European Union, contact the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division
Western Europe: Jim Tringe james.tringe@usda.gov, at (202)720-0882
Central Europe: Bryan Purcell bryan.purcell@usda.gov, at (202)690-0138