10 Major Wheat Producing Countries in the World

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing food for billions of people. It is also a major commodity in global trade, with many countries relying on wheat imports or exports to meet their food security needs. In this article, we will look at the top 10 wheat producing countries in the world, based on data from 2020.

1. China

China is the world’s largest wheat producer, with a total output of 134.3 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 17.7% of the global wheat production. China has a large area of arable land, suitable for growing various types of wheat, such as winter wheat, spring wheat, and durum wheat. China also has a huge domestic demand for wheat, as it is a staple food for many people, especially in the northern regions. China consumes about 19% of the global wheat supply, making it the largest wheat consumer as well.

2. India

India is the second-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 98.5 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 13% of the global wheat production. India has a diverse climate and soil, which allows it to grow different varieties of wheat, such as bread wheat, durum wheat, and triticale. Wheat is mainly grown in the northern and central parts of India, where it is sown in winter and harvested in spring. Wheat is an important food crop for India, as it is used to make products such as chapati, roti, naan, and paratha.

3. Russia

Russia is the third-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 85.9 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 11.3% of the global wheat production. Russia has a vast territory and a temperate climate, which are favorable for growing wheat. Russia mainly grows spring wheat and winter wheat, which are adapted to different regions and seasons. Wheat is one of the main crops in Russia, as it contributes to its food security and export earnings. Russia is also the largest wheat exporter in the world, with a market share of about 22% in 2020.

4. United States

The United States is the fourth-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 47.4 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 6.2% of the global wheat production. The United States has a diverse geography and climate, which enable it to grow different types of wheat, such as hard red winter wheat, hard red spring wheat, soft red winter wheat, durum wheat, and soft white wheat. Wheat is grown in almost every state in the United States, but the major producing regions are the Great Plains and the Pacific Northwest. Wheat is an important crop for the United States, as it provides food for domestic consumption and export markets.

5. Canada

Canada is the fifth-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 35.2 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 4.6% of the global wheat production. Canada has a cold and dry climate, which is suitable for growing high-quality hard red spring wheat and durum wheat. These types of wheat are prized for their high protein content and gluten strength, which make them ideal for making bread and pasta. Wheat is mainly grown in the western provinces of Canada, such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Wheat is a vital crop for Canada, as it supports its economy and food security.

6. France

France is the sixth-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 30.1 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 4% of the global wheat production. France has a mild and humid climate, which is favorable for growing soft winter wheat and durum wheat. These types of wheat are used to make products such as baguette, croissant, brioche, and couscous. Wheat is grown throughout France, but the main producing regions are the Paris Basin and the Rhone Valley. Wheat is an essential crop for France, as it contributes to its culinary culture and export income.

7. Pakistan

Pakistan is the seventh-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 25.2 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 3.3% of the global wheat production. Pakistan has a subtropical and arid climate, which is suitable for growing irrigated wheat. Wheat is the main food crop in Pakistan, as it is used to make products such as roti, naan, and halwa. Wheat is grown in all provinces of Pakistan, but the major producing regions are Punjab and Sindh. Wheat is a crucial crop for Pakistan, as it ensures its food security and self sufficiency.

8. Ukraine

Ukraine is the eighth-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 24.9 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 3.3% of the global wheat production. Ukraine has a continental climate, which is conducive for growing winter wheat and spring wheat. Wheat is one of the main crops in Ukraine, as it provides food for domestic consumption and export markets. Ukraine is also one of the top wheat exporters in the world, with a market share of about 10% in 2020.

9. Germany

Germany is the ninth-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 22.2 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 2.9% of the global wheat production. Germany has a temperate climate, which is favorable for growing winter wheat and spring wheat. Wheat is an important crop in Germany, as it is used to make products such as bread, cake, beer, and noodles. Wheat is grown throughout Germany, but the main producing regions are Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Wurttemberg. Wheat is a vital crop for Germany, as it supports its food industry and export earnings.

10. Turkey

Turkey is the tenth-largest wheat producer in the world, with a total output of 20.5 million tonnes in 2020. This accounted for about 2.7% of the global wheat production. Turkey has a varied climate and soil, which allow it to grow different varieties of wheat, such as bread wheat, durum wheat, and einkorn wheat. Wheat is an essential food crop in Turkey, as it is used to make products such as bread, bulgur, baklava, and borek. Wheat is grown in almost every region of Turkey, but the major producing areas are Central Anatolia, Southeastern Anatolia, and Thrace. Wheat is a crucial crop for Turkey, as it enhances its food security and export potential.

Wheat is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed crops in the world, with many countries depending on it for their food supply and trade balance. The top 10 wheat producing countries in the world are China, India, Russia, United States, Canada, France, Pakistan, Ukraine, Germany, and Turkey. These countries account for about 72% of the global wheat production. Wheat production is influenced by various factors such as climate, soil, irrigation, pests, diseases, and market conditions. Therefore, wheat producers face many challenges and opportunities to increase their yield and quality.

Major Wheat Producing Countries and Global Demand

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, second only to rice and maize in terms of production and consumption. Wheat is widely used as a staple food, as well as for making products such as bread, pasta, cereal, pastries, cookies, crackers, muffins, tortillas, and pitas. Wheat is also a source of starch, malt, dextrose, gluten, alcohol, and other products.

Top 10 Wheat Producers in 2020

According to the data from The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the top 10 wheat-producing countries in 2020 were:

China: 134.3 million tonnes
India: 107.6 million tonnes
Russia: 85.9 million tonnes
United States: 49.7 million tonnes
Canada: 35.2 million tonnes
France: 30.1 million tonnes
Pakistan: 25.2 million tonnes
Ukraine: 24.9 million tonnes
Germany: 22.2 million tonnes
Turkey: 20.5 million tonnes

These 10 countries accounted for about 67% of the total global wheat production of 760 million tonnes in 2020.

Trends in Global Wheat Demand

The global demand for wheat is driven by several factors, such as population growth, income growth, urbanization, dietary changes, and biofuel production. According to the FAO, the global wheat consumption is projected to increase by 1.1% per year from 2020 to 2030, reaching 832 million tonnes by 2030.

The main drivers of wheat demand are:

Food use

Wheat is a major staple food for many regions, especially in Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. The food use of wheat is expected to grow by 0.9% per year from 2020 to 2030, reaching 617 million tonnes by 2030. The growth in food use is mainly due to population growth and income growth in developing countries, which leads to higher per capita consumption of wheat products.

Feed use

Wheat is also used as animal feed, especially in regions where maize is scarce or expensive. The feed use of wheat is expected to grow by 1.8% per year from 2020 to 2030, reaching 162 million tonnes by 2030. The growth in feed use is mainly due to the expansion of livestock production, especially poultry and pigs, in developing countries.

Industrial use

Wheat is also used for industrial purposes, such as producing starch, malt, dextrose, gluten, alcohol, and biofuels. The industrial use of wheat is expected to grow by 1.6% per year from 2020 to 2030, reaching 53 million tonnes by 2030. The growth in industrial use is mainly due to the increasing demand for biofuels, especially ethanol, which can be derived from wheat starch.

References:

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize

http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/

http://faostat3.fao.org/

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/top-10-countries-produce-most-wheat/
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/wheat-production-by-country
https://ukragroconsult.com/en/news/top-20-wheat-producing-countries-in-2022/)major wheat producing countries

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/08/top-10-countries-produce-most-wheat/

https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/wheat-production-by-country

https://web.archive.org/web/20160910234716/http://faostat3.fao.org/faostat-gateway/go/to/download/Q/QC/E