The heatwave will also affect food prices

According to JRC’s analysis based on satellite data, in Hungary, compared to the yield expectations estimated in June, the yield expectations for corn decreased by 14 percent and for sunflower by 9 percent by mid-July. Forecasts for maize were revised from 7.47 tonnes to 6.77 tonnes per hectare, and for sunflower from 3.01 tonnes to 2.73 tonnes. The analysis is based on data generated for about half of the heat wave of the past weeks, so the actual amount of loss will be influenced by the weather of the following days and weeks.

Situation in other Southeast European countries

Significant yield reductions are also forecast in other South-Eastern European countries. In Bulgaria, the corn yield forecast was reduced by 15 percent and the sunflower yield by 7 percent. In Romania, the corn yield forecast decreased by 10 percent, and the sunflower yield by 6 percent.

EU and Ukrainian data

At the EU level (EU27), a yield decrease of 4 percent for corn and 5 percent for sunflower is predicted. In Ukraine, the National Hydrometeorological Center of Ukraine predicts a corn yield loss of between 20 and 30 percent, while in the case of sunflower, international analysts expect a yield loss of around 4 percent for the time being.