Grain exports from France’s Rouen port, Europe’s biggest cereal-shipping hub, fell 46 percent in the week through yesterday to the lowest in five weeks on a lack of cargoes for Algeria and West Africa.
Outbound grain was 56,801 metric tons between Feb. 9 and Feb. 15 from 105,609 tons a week ago, the Seine River port said in an e-mailed report today. Exports included 43,101 tons of soft wheat and 6,600 tons of durum wheat.
Morocco was the biggest export destination, taking 20,000 tons of soft wheat and 6,600 tons of the harder durum variety used to make couscous and pasta. Cuba was the second-biggest customer with 23,101 tons of soft wheat.
Rouen accounted for 45 percent of France’s maritime grain exports in 2009-10, ahead of La Pallice on the Bay of Biscay, which shipped out 19 percent, according to figures from national crops office FranceAgriMer.
Rouen grain loadings by destination, in metric tons:

                          Feb. 9-15
Soft wheat
Cuba                    23,101
Morocco              20,000
Durum wheat
Morocco               6,600

Barley
Russia                   3,320
U.K.                      2,235
Corn
Denmark                1,545
Source: Bloomberg