The maize market in France

Since 2020, the global fertilizer market has experienced major disruptions due to external factors such as soaring raw material prices and geopolitical tensions, in particular the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Natural gas, which can account for up to 80% of the production costs of some fertilizers, saw prices rise dramatically after the health crisis, hampering production and causing fertilizer prices to soar. The reduction in exports by major players such as Russia, which was the world's second largest producer and had interrupted its exports, only to resume them at the end of 2022, created a shortage in Europe, where fertilizer prices soared.this created a shortage in Europe, where fertilizer production was affected, with up to 70% of operations halted by September 2022. In France, fertilizer production jumped to 4.059 billion euros in 2022. Global demand is forecast at 3.3% per year between 2023 and 2032. The French market is undergoing a dramatic shift in favor of natural fertilizers

The cereals market in France is estimated at 18 billion euros. France has over 7.4 million hectares of cereal-growing land, i.e. around 50% of arable land . The Grand Est and Hauts-de-France regions lead the way in production. The main crops are soft wheat, barley and corn. France is a major player on the cereals market. The needs of the milling industry are stagnating, while those of industrial outlets such as pasta production are increasing. France is self-sufficient in organic wheat. The pandemic had a notable impact on barley used for malting, with world trade slowing by around 5%, leading to increased use of malting barley for animal feed. Corn demand remained stable in the EU, boosted by its incorporation in animal feed, which offset the drop in ethanol demand affecting US producers. France is one of the world's top five cereal exporters. While countries such as China and India are major cereal producers, they have a limited presence on world trade markets. Almost half of French

The French hay market is valued at 6.6 billion euros . Hay production is a multi-stage process, involving cutting, tedding, windrowing and baling. The TSG label for hay milk certifies high-quality dairy products from animals fed mainly on hay. Hay is an essential component of animal feed, particularly for livestock such as cattle (between 15 and 20 million head) and sheep (around 7.2 million head). The evolution of livestock production in France is one of the main factors influencing demand for hay. Over time, the composition of livestock has changed, with a notable transition from sheep herds to a predominance of cattle. The area of permanent grassland has decreased by 513,800 hectares in ten years. Hay production is around 600 million quintals on a surface area of 12.3 million hectares, with an average yield of 49 quintals per hectare. Much of the hay produced is used to feed livestock rather than being sold. Some 20 million tonnes of forage are marketed each year. Key players in the