Euronext wheat climbs to seven-week high on Russia weather worries
PARIS, Oct 1 (Reuters) -European wheat futures rallied on Tuesday to a seven-week peak as growing concern over drought in top exporter Russia took attention away from Black Sea export competition.
December wheat BL2Z4 on Paris-based Euronext was settled 2.4% at 227.50 euros ($251.50) a metric ton, with dealers also citing support from a sharp fall in the euro against the dollar EUR=.
The contract earlier touched its highest since Aug. 9 at 228.25 euros.
Chicago wheat Wv1 also rose by over 2%, with dry weather forecast for the U.S. Plains contributing to crop worries. GRA/
In Russia, news that the Voronezh region, one of the country's key farming areas for grain, declared a drought emergency for farming put more attention on parched conditions that are hampering winter wheat sowing.
"The fears over Black Sea weather are the main factor at play," a futures dealer said.
Concerns over war escalation in the Middle East, as Washington warned of a possible Iranian missile attack on Israel in response to an Israeli incursion into Lebanon, added to the firm trend. O/R
Russian prices have also trended higher in the past week but traders said 12.5% protein Russian wheat for October shipment was on Tuesday still quoted well below EU prices at $220-$223 a ton free on board (FOB).
Russian and Ukrainian 11.5% wheat were around the same at $217-$218 a ton FOB for October shipment.
"Russian wheat prices have risen over the $200 level which is positive for the EU, but Russia still has a huge price lead and importers are resisting price rises," one German trader said.
Russia is expected to be Morocco's top soft wheat supplier this season, surpassing France, the head of the Moroccan grain traders' association (FNCL) said on Tuesday.
"There has been some demand from Morocco but Moroccans are asking EU sellers to match Russian prices, which are at least $6 a ton below the EU in C&F terms," the trader said, referring to cost and freight prices including ocean shipping.
EU soft wheat exports so far this season were down 26% from a year ago at 6.14 million tons, though figures for France and Bulgaria remained incomplete, the European Commission said.
($1 = 0.9046 euros)
Reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris and Michael Hogan in Hamburg; Editing by Alan Barona
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