Europe’s 2026 Heatwave: Estimated 9 Million Tonne Wheat Loss and €2 Billion Cost

The extreme heatwave that swept across Europe in June is estimated to have caused a loss of 9 million tonnes of wheat and a cost of €2 billion. Coceral, the European cereals and oilseeds trade association, predicts these losses will push the 27 EU member states and the UK to their lowest harvest levels since 2018. France is expected to suffer the biggest losses, with 3.4 million tonnes of wheat lost, followed by Hungary and Spain. This situation will increase Europe’s dependence on wheat imports and push global wheat prices higher. British farmers are also facing challenges due to drought during the harvest season. Experts warn that these losses could negatively impact Europe’s food security and that the effects may continue into the next harvest season. Additionally, severe drought in the southern and western regions of the US has reduced wheat and meat production, tightening global wheat supplies and driving up prices.