A 12-year high for French softwheat exports within the EU will offset reduced shipments outside the bloc linked to Russian competition, helping keep French wheat stocks at a normal level. In a monthly supply and demand outlook for cereal crops, FranceAgriMer raised its estimate of French soft wheat exports in the 2017/18 season that ends on June 30 to 9.1 million tonnes from 8.9 million forecast last month. The last time French wheat exports within the bloc surpassed 9 million tonnes was in 2005/06, customs data gathered by Reuters showed. In 2016/17 they stood at 5.0 million tonnes.