Prices for European maize have halved in the past year[1]. This collapse has now been amplified by the risk of recession in several consumer areas.

Despite this, having delivered an initial blow to intervention mechanisms in 2007, by gradually reducing intervention volumes (1.5 million tonnes in 2007, 700,000 tonnes in 2008 and 0 tonnes from 2009), the European Commission used the excuse in the spring of this year of a lastingly rising market to propose the definitive removal of the tools of market regulation. A few weeks later the markets crashed. The warnings we issued have not been heeded. Producers have been left to fend for themselves in this highly volatile market.
 
Maize producers are feeling the full impact of higher production costs with fertilizer prices up 80% and fuel price up 40% due to soaring oil prices. In the majority of member states, the increase in costs over the past year has been between €150 and €200 per hectare.
 
Faced with this situation, European maize producers expect an immediate reaction from the European Commission, with a strengthening of the tools of market regulation. The response must allow intervention in cereals markets with no volume limits and the reintroduction of import tariffs.
 
Without a rapid response, European maize production will be scaled back drastically and the dependence of its livestock industries on cereals produced elsewhere will increase.
 
The future of many maize producers, in all EU member states, is under threat.
 
Contact: Luc Esprit, Permanent Secretary: 00 33 (0)6 80 31 65 45
  
C.E.P.M. (the European Confederation of Maize Production) brings together maize-producing representative organisations from the following countries: Germany, Bulgaria, Spain, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania.