HAMBURG (June 25 2003) : The European Union will become a net rapeseedimporter in 2003-04 as its rapeseed crop is forecast to fall to 9.30million tonnes from 9.34 million in the previous season, Hamburg-basednewsletter Oil World said.

It forecast Germany's crop at 3.95 million tonnes from 3.88 million tonneslast season, but this is below previous estimates.

France's will fall to 2.90 million tonnes from 3.32 million. Bothcountries have had unfavourable weather.

Poland and the Czech Republic will also raise imports because of cropdamage, it said.

It forecast EU 2003/04 rapeseed exports at 250,000 tonnes from 870,000tonnes. Some EU exports are still likely to the Czech Republic and Polandplus probably one or two cargoes to Pakistan and Bangladesh, itadded.-Reuters