Prospects for the 2014 harvest are good as the winter climatic conditions have been broadly favourable so far, according to the Commission's Winter 2014 Short-Term Agricultural Outlook published today. This, combined with the good 2013 cereal harvest, will allow for some recovery in stocks by the end of the 2013/14 marketing year, bringing the stock-to-use ratio to 12.2% (compared to 10.3% in the previous marketing year).
EU cereals exports could reach a record level, possibly exceeding 37 million tonnes.
In the livestock sectors, following two successive years of reduction in domestic beef and pork supply, EU meat production and consumption are expected to recover in 2014.
For the dairy sector, the 2013 high milk prices have stimulated an increase in milk production likely to continue in the short run. Though no significant surge in milk production is expected in 2015 after the quota system expires, increased milk availability should allow for new export opportunities on world markets, in particular for milk powders and cheese.