The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s attaché in Spain is projecting an increase in grain production for the European Union in 2023-24.

In the USDA’s Global Agricultural Information Network report released Wednesday, the attaché pegged the EU’s 2023-24 grain production at 284.7 million tonnes, 17.9 million more than this year’s crop which was hampered by drought.

Initial crop conditions were deemed favourable across the EU, while also noting that rains will be needed to replenish soil moisture in Portugal, Spain and western France.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and rising food prices caused a stagnation of grain demand, but the larger production will reduce imports by eight million tonnes, to 27.4 million.

The total seeded area is slated to increase by 330,000 hectares to 51.4 million, while ending stocks in 2023-24 are projected to be 31.3 million tonnes, 1.5 million more than in 2022-23.