UK wheat exports are running about 32 percent below last season, with the pace slowing during February, official customs data showed on Wednesday. Wheat exports for the July-February period were 1.68 million tonnes, down 32 percent from 2.47 million in the same period last season, according to the data.

Grain exporters shipped 215,486 tonnes of wheat overseas in February including 105,547 to Spain. The total was below the 243,220 tonnes shipped during January. Shipments to Spain during the July-February period fell to 1.06 million tonnes, down 23 percent from 1.39 million a year earlier. Exports to several other key markets including Portgual, the Netherlands and Germany also dipped.

Ireland took over from Portugal as the second most important market for British wheat, taking 205,630 tonnes, up from 188,573 tonnes during the July-February period in 2004/05.

Barley exports during February were 53,630 tonnes, of which 28,946 were shipped to Spain. Shipments of barley for the July-February 2005-06 period were 517,313 tonnes, down 12 percent from 590,734 a year earlier.

Source: Reuters