EU Wheat Exports Surge 10% as Romania Leads

• EU wheat exports up 10%: Shipments reached 15.38 mln t in 2025/26 MY as of Feb 22, supported by strong Romanian and French exports.
• Romania leads EU shipments: Romania exported 4.93 mln t of wheat, ahead of France at 4.23 mln t, consolidating its Black Sea export role.
• Barley exports surge: EU barley exports jumped 79% year-on-year to 6.21 mln t, signaling robust demand for alternative grains.
• Corn imports decline: EU corn imports fell 16% to 11.5 mln t, indicating better internal supply or weaker demand for imported corn.
• Data gaps cloud visibility: Missing data for France, Bulgaria, Ireland, and Poland limit full assessment of EU grain trade flows.

EU Wheat Export Performance

The European Commission reports that EU wheat exports in the 2025/26 marketing year reached 15.38 million tonnes as of February 22, exceeding 15 million tonnes and marking a 10% increase from 14.02 million tonnes shipped during the same period last season. The export pace underscores the EU’s strengthened position in global wheat trade despite incomplete reporting from some member states.

Romania remains the EU’s largest wheat exporter, with shipments totaling 4.93 million tonnes, leveraging its Black Sea port access and competitive pricing. France follows with 4.23 million tonnes, though export data from the country has been incomplete since early 2024. Poland and Lithuania each contribute around 1.7 million tonnes (1.75 and 1.74 million tonnes respectively), while Germany adds a further 1.17 million tonnes to overall EU export volumes.

Grain Trade Dynamics: Wheat, Barley, and Corn

Beyond wheat, EU barley exports have shown even stronger relative growth, rising 79% year-on-year to 6.21 million tonnes. This surge highlights robust international demand for feed and malting barley and reinforces the EU’s role as a key supplier in global barley markets.

In contrast, EU corn imports declined 16%, falling to 11.5 million tonnes from 12.74 million tonnes in the previous season. The drop in corn import volumes points to either improved domestic supply conditions within the EU or softer demand for imported corn, which may be partially offset by increased utilization of domestically produced grains such as wheat and barley.

Commodity / Flow	2024/25 (mln t)	2025/26 (mln t, as of Feb 22)	Y/Y Change
EU Wheat Exports	14.02	15.38	+10%
EU Barley Exports	3.47*	6.21	+79%
EU Corn Imports	12.74	11.50	-16%

*Implied prior-season barley exports based on a 79% year-on-year increase to 6.21 mln t.

Export Leaders and Data Limitations

Country	Wheat Exports 2025/26 (mln t)	Notes
Romania	4.93	Largest EU wheat exporter; key Black Sea outlet
France	4.23	Data incomplete since early 2024
Poland	1.75	Data missing from October 2025 onwards
Lithuania	1.74	Consistent contributor to EU wheat flows
Germany	1.17	Moderate but stable export volumes

Data gaps remain a notable issue for interpreting EU grain trade. France’s export statistics have been incomplete since early 2024, while Bulgaria and Ireland have missing data from the start of the 2023/24 marketing year. In addition, Polish data has been unavailable from October 2025 onward. These gaps may understate total EU exports, particularly for wheat.

Market Impact and Competitive Landscape

The current configuration is neutral to bearish for Black Sea wheat exporters outside the EU. Romania’s strong export performance via Black Sea ports increases competition for key destination markets in North Africa and the Middle East, where it directly overlaps with Ukrainian and Russian supply.

As EU wheat becomes more price-competitive and logistics from Romanian ports remain efficient, traditional Black Sea exporters may face pressure to adjust pricing or accept narrower margins to defend market share. However, the incomplete trade data from major EU exporters such as France and Poland limits the ability to fully assess the scale and sustainability of the EU’s competitive advantage in these shared destination markets.

Source: Market Data