EU wheat steadies with exports in focus

PARIS, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Euronext wheat edged up on Friday after a sharp fall this week, with improved export prospects helping underpin prices.

May wheat BL2K5, the most active contract on Euronext, settled 0.5% higher at 229.00 euros ($238.07) a metric ton, recovering from Thursday's near three-month low of 227.50 euros.

Over the week, the contract was down 2.5%.

Chicago wheat Wv1, which has pressured Euronext this week, eased again on Friday. The U.S. market has been curbed by a government forecast of increased wheat planting as well as concerns over the consequences of proposed U.S. tariffs. GRA/

Talk of renewed demand from Morocco for Western European wheat, including French supplies, has lent some support to Euronext this week against a backdrop of rising Russian prices.

"It appears French wheat has been sold for March to Morocco," a futures dealer said. "Russian prices aren't easing so we could see more exports in the coming months."

However, traders cautioned there was still competition from non-Russian Black Sea origins like Romanian and Bulgarian wheat.

Tunisia was believed to have purchased about 25,000 metric tons of optional-origin soft wheat in a tender on Friday, with Black Sea origins seen as best placed.

In France, the condition of soft wheat declined slightly last week to remain near the rain-hit score a year ago, while spring barley sowing advanced quickly during a drier spell, data from farm office FranceAgriMer showed on Friday.

($1 = 0.9619 euros)