France cuts maize, sugar beet forecasts to new lows

PARIS, Oct 13 (Reuters) - France's farm ministry sharply cut its forecast for this year's grain maize crop to 7.3 million metric tons, from 8.1 million last month, confirming expectations of the lowest output in decades after heatwaves and drought damaged crops.

"Grain maize yields suffered significantly from summer weather conditions, particularly a drought that persisted into September," the ministry said in its monthly report.

For sugar beet, which has also suffered badly from this summer's severe weather, the ministry reduced its production outlook to 25.3 million tons from 25.4 million last month, down 30% compared to 2025.

"With harvesting just getting underway, sugar beet production has been revised downwards to 25.3 million tons due to lower-than-expected yields," the ministry said.

The forecasts for both grain maize and sugar beet were the lowest in ministry records dating back to 1980.

For soft wheat, the country's main cereal crop, the ministry revised down its estimate of 2026 production to 31.5 million tons from 31.7 million last month, putting output 6% below last year's level.

Yields for sunflower seed were forecast at their lowest since at least 1980.

The rapeseed crop estimate was kept at 4.7 million tons, up 2% on the year.