Estimated Strategie Grains last year, EU countries have collected 58 million tons of corn. Recently, Strategie Grains has lowered the forecast of the new crop of 1.1 million tonnes to 60.6 million tonnes due to dry weather in France, Romania and Bulgaria.

"Extremely dry conditions have persisted in France, Bulgaria and Romania. Conditions in other European countries, mostly favorable. Unlike last year, when the crop was scarce nearly everywhere, now it will be much different, even if the year be bad again", said Benoit Fayaud, analyst Strategie Grains.

In France corn production in the best case, I repeat the result of last year. After a rainy spring, the weather from July remains very dry. The Ministry of agriculture of France assesses future harvest 13.5 million tons, the same as last year. Traders are more pessimistic and expect that it will not exceed 13 million tons.

Gross harvest of maize in Romania can also be lower than last year due to lack of moisture in the southern grain belt. The country is experiencing an extensive drought, particularly in the South, in the plains of Baragan. According to forecasts of the Association of producers of corn, depending on the weather in the coming weeks, the corn crop may reach 8.9 million tonnes, the same as last year, or may be reduced by 15%.

In Hungary, which is also the largest producer of corn in the EU, the weather was much more favourable.

"The harvest looks promising at the moment. Puberty hasn't started yet, but we expect the yield to 80 kg/ha", - said Jozsef Vancsura, President of the Hungarian Association of farmers, adding that if the yield forecast is justified, the gross yield will be about 8 million tons, 1.5 million tons more than last year.

Weather in Poland was better than last year, so the crop can grow on third - to 4 million tons, predicts Wojtek Sabaranski analyst Sparks Polska.

In Germany, the corn crops suffered from the wet weather and lack of sunlight. According to forecasts of the German farmers ' Association (DBV), the gross harvest of corn will decrease by 7% compared with the previous year to 3.7 million tonnes.