LATVIA (1 August)
Cereal harvest has began in most of the country and latest estimates point to a slightly reduced cereal harvest this year, 980 000 tonnes, compared with just over one million tonnes in 2002. Harsh weather conditions in winter compromised some crop areas. Aggregate cereal utilization is estimated at 1.3 million tonnes and import requirement is estimated at 131 000 tonnes for the 2003/04 marketing year.