The World's Biggest Wheat Exporting Countries

By.. Pankaj Katba

Agricultural prices are rising on the back of rampant speculation and weather conditions that have slammed output worldwide. This isn't just hitting market, but is pushing up prices at grocery stores and restaurants too.

The rise in wheat prices is going to have a negative impact on countries that import large amounts of wheat, like Egypt.

But in countries that export the stuff, high prices might mean big returns for producers.

And with the USDA forecasting a 10% decline in global inventories, due to reduced planting in Russia, those making wheat should continue to benefit from higher prices.

Many of the top exporters consume large amounts domestically, and foresee weak harvests in 2011 due to bad weather.

#10 Brazil

USDA

Export: 1.1 million tons

Domestic consumption: 8.8 million tons

Key export market: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) namely Algeria, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt account for a majority of Brazilian wheat imports.

Outlook: In an attempt to reduce its dependency on imports, the Brazilian government is looking to double its wheat output in 5 years by promoting wheat planting in the Cerrado region, according to Bloomberg. The country's per capita demand for wheat is expected to rise 7% to 56 kg per person by 2018.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#9 Turkey

Wikimedia Commons

Export: 3 million tons

Domestic consumption: 16.5 million tons

Key export market: Indonesia is one of the biggest importers of Turkish wheat but is also accusing Turkish companies of "wheat dumping".

Outlook: Turkey's 19 million ton wheat output in 2010 was lower than 2009 levels but enough for domestic consumption. In 2011, Turkey issued tenders to buy wheat according to Reuters. Wheat has also been getting reduced acreage as farmers are switching to other crops.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#8 Russia

AP

Export: 4 million tons

Domestic consumption: 38 million tons

Key export market: Russia largely exports to the Middle East and North Africa; Egypt is its largest wheat export market followed by Turkey, Syria, Iran and Libya.

Outlook: Last summer's drought has cut wheat plantings and the Kremlin has banned exports of the crop. Plantings are expected to fall 2.3% to 64.2 million acres this year according to Bloomberg.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#7 Kazakhstan

Wikimedia Commons

Export: 5 million tons

Domestic consumption: 4.8 million tons

Key export market: South-East Asia and China are some of Kazakhstan's biggest export wheat markets.

Outlook: Kazakhstan's wheat crop was hurt last year by dry weather and the country put in place restrictions on exports to curb domestic price inflation. Wheat prices increased 12.4% in the January-March period of 2011, according to AgriMarket.Info. 

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#6 Ukraine

AP

Export: 5.5 million tons

Domestic consumption: 14.1 million tons

Key export market: The Middle East and North Africa, primarily Egypt, is the biggest importer of Ukrainian wheat.

Outlook: Ukraine imposed restrictions on grain exports in October of last year but the country's Prime minister said the country will do away with the restrictions if the country has a good harvest. Germany and the American Chamber of Commerce have asked the country to stop legislation that would affect state control over grains exports.  

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#5 Argentina

Wikimedia Commons

Export: 8.5 million tons

Domestic consumption: 4.4 million tons

Key export market: Brazil and India are some of the biggest importers of Argentine wheat.

Outlook: The International Grains Council expects Argentina's wheat production to fall 10% in 2011-2012 to 13 million tons, according to High Plains Journal.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#4 Australia

AP

Australian farmers plant wheat on a family farm

Export: 13.5 million tons

Domestic consumption: 4.5 million tons

Key export market: Indonesia and China are some of the biggest importers of Australian wheat.

Outlook: Australia could export as much as 15 million tonnes of the wheat on growing demand for the grain. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences expects a 24.3 million tonne harvest this year but expectations are that the crop output in Western Australia will lag projections, according to IIFL.com.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#3 Canada

AP

Export: 17.5 million tons

Domestic consumption: 7.9 million tons

Key export market: China, Japan, Iran, US and South Korea are the biggest importers of Canadian wheat.

Outlook: Fears of flooding have led Canada to cut expectations for its wheat harvest to 24.5 million tonnes this year. That's higher than previous harvests, but 400,000 tonnes lower than projected, according to Agrimoney.com.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

#2 France

Wikimedia Commons

Export: 19.2 million tons

Domestic consumption: 18.5 million tons

Key export market: North Africa, specifically Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco form France's biggest wheat market. Civil unrest in the Middle East has seen a boost in exports to the region.

Outlook: France will reap 35.8 million tons of soft wheat used in bread, baked goods and animal feed. That's 0.3 percent more than in 2010, according to Bloomberg. France has profited from Russia's ban on exports.

Export figures provided by FranceAgriMer and consumption data provided by the USDA

#1 USA

Export: 35.4 million tons

Domestic consumption: 35.7 million tons

Key export market: Japan, Nigeria, Mexico and the Philippines are America's largest wheat export markets.

Outlook: Dry weather in the south and possible flooding in the North are expected hurt wheat production. The USDA only rated 37% of the winter crop "good or excellent" compared to 65% last year according to Bloomberg.

Export figures and consumption data provided by the USDA

Thanks & Best Regards

Pankaj Katba

Feed Grain Agri Brokers  

(International Brokers / Buyers sourcing agent for Milling Wheat, Maize, Millet, Rice, Sugar Barley & Repe Seed Meal)

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