Production of cereals in the EU in 2023/2024 is estimated at 268.5 million tonnes (4.3% below the 5-year average), mainly due to unfavorable spring and summer weather conditions that negatively affected especially the production of maize and barley (13% and 7% below the 5-year average).

The use of cereals in the EU is stable compared to the last marketing year, but 1.4% below the 5-year average. Since animal production in the EU remains relatively stable (but varies between species), the increase in cereal use for animal feed is expected to be quite marginal (+0.3%), while the use of cereals for biofuel production continues to increase (12% above 2022/23).

After a historically high level of cereal imports into the EU in 2022/23, they are likely to be lower in 2023/24, although still above the 5-year average.

Production of oilseeds in the EU in 2023/2024 is expected to be 33 million tonnes (11% above the 5-year average), mainly due to an excellent rapeseed crop (13.3% above the 5-year average). With a production of 4.6 million tonnes, availability of protein crops will be higher (7.7% above the 5-year average).

Sugar production in the EU in 2023/24 is estimated at 15.6 million tonnes (close to the 5-year average), as sugar beet planting area, beet yield, and sugar content are expected to increase.

EU production of isoglucose, which was estimated to decrease by 24% in 2022/2023 due to the consequences of the 2022 summer drought, high raw material prices, and input costs in the main producing countries in the EU, is expected to partially recover in 2023/24, according to a recent DGAgri analysis.