Experts say that the world's wheat trade patterns and prices will greatly change, if Russia continues to stockpile its wheat and puts a definitive quota on its wheat export. With 2.3 million tonnes of wheat quoted, Russia hit and bypassed this quota by the end of April. Back in March, Russia's agricultural ministry proposed to limit its all-grain export to 7-8 million tonnes in three-month period, from April to June. In fact, Russia is planning to put limits on its wheat export to protect its food supply, as an effect of COVID-19, and as a precaution after the U.S. Although Russia is projected to stay the top wheat exporter for the upcoming year, there has been a steady decrease from previous years, which is likely to continue. Russia gets the third place in the world’s wheat production and the first place as the world's top exporter of wheat, with 77,000 metric tonnes produced and $6.4 billion worth exported in 2019, or nearly 17% of all wheat exports.

Producing 103,000,000 metric tonnes of wheat this year, India takes the second place on this list. More adaptable to weather changes, than rice, wheat is sown in India throughout the fall season and harvested in winter-spring. Just like in China, wheat is India's second most produced crop after rice, and dominates staple dishes in the north of the country. India Indian farmers separating husk and wheat grains from the chopped wheat using a thresher machine. Archaeological evidence, which includes human factors such as ancient tools used to cultivate wheat, suggests that wheat came to China from either Siberia or Mongolia in Eurasia. Paleobotanical evidence, which is based on studying plant fossils, suggests that wheat originated around Afghanistan or Central Asia and made its way into China through the northern province of Xinjiang. However, wheat, being a winter crop, thrives in the northern provinces, where temperatures hit negative double digits, and people prefer to eat noodles. Rice is China's top agricultural product and consumed predominantly in the south. ChinaĬhina continues to be the top single country wheat producer in the world, with 135,000,000 metric tonnes of wheat produced this year or 29% of the world's total.

In fact, a record amount of wheat supply is projected for 2020, with the biggest contributors on this list of the largest wheat-producing countries in the world. Although other industries have been affected by the virus through cut-backs, wheat production is flourishing. Easy to cultivate in various climates, high in carbohydrates, and with more protein than in corn and rice, wheat is a relatively cheap and easily attainable source of energy.

Record production and consumption of wheat is projected in 2020.īeing one of the easiest crops to grow, wheat is the main ingredient in staple dishes and baked goods around the world, like pasta, pizza and bread products.

Although corn and soybean dominate US' agriculture over wheat, US ranks fourth in the world's top wheat producers.

The European breadbasket, Ukraine, with vast fields and a hardworking nation, comes in the sixth place of top wheat producers in the world.

Wheat is a winter crop, flexible to grow in various conditions.Without sanctions-related curbs, they would be over 60 million tonnes, she added.A wheat crop field. State-controlled trader United Grain Company expects Russia's 2022/23 grain exports at 53-54 million tonnes, its deputy head Ksenia Bolomatova said last week, having picked up pace after a sluggish start to the season. It estimates Russia's total 2022/23 grain exports at 56.1 million tonnes, including 43.7 million of wheat. Sovecon expects Russia's July-December wheat exports at 22.9 million tonnes, up 2% year-on-year and equal to the average of the past five years. It will be still technically possible, but quite difficult to reach our seasonal target of 44 million tonnes.' 'If it is so, half-a-year wheat export will be at about 23.5 million tonnes. 'We could repeat November figures, but bad weather in ports will most likely prevent it,' IKAR said. Some traders temporarily stopped purchases from farmers in Russia's south last week, as storms complicated loading of vessels in ports, it added. That is close to the record of 4.3 million tonnes set in December, 2017, Sovecon said, adding that Russia exported 4.3 million tonnes of wheat in November. Sovecon and another consultancy IKAR see December wheat exports at 4.0-4.2 million tonnes. Russia also resumed wheat supplies to Iraq after a 10-year pause, Rusagrotrans added. Since the start of the season on July 1, Russia sold more wheat than in any previous season to Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Pakistan, Brazil and Mexico, analysts at Russian rail operator Rusagrotrans said in a note.

Biggest wheat exporters