EU 2020/21 soft wheat exports 23.44mln tonnes by May 16

PARIS- Soft wheat exports from the European Union in the 2020/21 season that started last July had reached 23.44 million tonnes by May 16, data published by the European Commission showed on Monday.

That was down from 31.27 million tonnes cleared by the same week last season, the data showed.

Since Jan. 1, the European Commission's data has covered the EU's 27 countries only, whereas previous figures up to Dec. 31 covered both the EU-27 and Britain.

EU 2020/21 barley exports had reached 6.86 million tonnes, against 6.77 million a year ago, while EU 2020/21 maize imports stood at 12.81 million tonnes, down from 18.29 million.

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, editing by Forrest Crellin) ((Sybille.deLaHamaide@thomsonreuters.com; +336 8774 4148;))