10 Wheat Producing Countries That Feed the World

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing food for billions of people and animal feed for livestock. Wheat is also used to make flour, starch, malt, dextrose, gluten, alcohol, and other products. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the global production of wheat in 2020 was 760 million tons, with China, India, and Russia being the top three producers. In this article, we will look at the top 10 wheat producing countries in the world and how they contribute to the global wheat supply.

China

China is the largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 134.3 million tons in 2020. China accounts for about 18% of the world’s total wheat production and consumes most of its wheat domestically. China grows mainly common wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (T. durum) in its northern and western regions, where the climate is suitable for wheat cultivation. China also imports wheat from other countries to meet its demand.

India

India is the second-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 107.6 million tons in 2020. India accounts for about 14% of the world’s total wheat production and is also a major consumer of wheat. India grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its northern and central regions, where the winter season provides favorable conditions for wheat growth. India also exports some of its wheat to neighboring countries and other regions.

Russia

Russia is the third-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 85.9 million tons in 2020. Russia accounts for about 11% of the world’s total wheat production and is also a major exporter of wheat. Russia grows mainly common wheat and club wheat (T. compactum) in its southern and western regions, where the soil is fertile, and the climate is temperate. Russia also imports some wheat from other countries to meet its domestic demand.

United States

The United States is the fourth-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 49.7 million tons in 2020. The United States accounts for about 7% of the world’s total wheat production and is also a major exporter of wheat. The United States grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its central and northern regions, where the land is vast, and the weather is variable. The United States also imports some wheat from other countries to diversify its supply.

Canada

Canada is the fifth-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 35.2 million tons in 2020. Canada accounts for about 5% of the world’s total wheat production and is also a major exporter of wheat. Canada grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its western and eastern regions, where the climate is cold and dry. Canada also imports some wheat from other countries to supplement its domestic consumption.

France

France is the sixth-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 30.1 million tons in 2020. France accounts for about 4% of the world’s total wheat production and is also a major exporter of wheat. France grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its northern and southern regions, where the soil is rich and the climate is mild. France also imports some wheat from other countries to meet its demand.

Pakistan

Pakistan is the seventh-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 25.2 million tons in 2020. Pakistan accounts for about 3% of the world’s total wheat production and consumes most of its wheat domestically. Pakistan grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its northern and central regions, where the irrigation system is well-developed and the weather is moderate. Pakistan also imports some wheat from other countries to fill its gap.

Ukraine

Ukraine is the eighth-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 24.9 million tons in 2020. Ukraine accounts for about 3% of the world’s total wheat production and is also a major exporter of wheat. Ukraine grows mainly common wheat and club wheat in its central and southern regions, where the land is flat and the climate is continental. Ukraine also imports some wheat from other countries to diversify its supply.

Germany

Germany is the ninth-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 22.2 million tons in 2020. Germany accounts for about 3% of the world’s total wheat production and consumes most of its wheat domestically. Germany grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its northern and southern regions, where the soil is fertile and the climate is humid. Germany also imports some wheat from other countries to meet its demand.

Turkey

Turkey is the tenth-largest wheat producer in the world, with an output of 20.5 million tons in 2020. Turkey accounts for about 3% of the world’s total wheat production and consumes most of its wheat domestically. Turkey grows mainly common wheat and durum wheat in its central and eastern regions, where the terrain is diverse, and the climate is varied. Turkey also imports some wheat from other countries to fill its gap.

Top 10 Wheat Producing Countries and Their Global Demand

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing food for billions of people and feed for livestock. Wheat production is influenced by many factors, such as climate, soil, pests, diseases, and trade policies. In this article, we will look at the top 10 wheat producing countries in the world and how their production affects the global demand for wheat.

China: The Largest Wheat Producer and Consumer

China is the largest wheat producer in the world, accounting for about 18% of the global wheat production in 2020. China harvested 134 million tons of wheat from 24 million hectares of land, achieving an average yield of 5.6 tons per hectare. China is also the largest wheat consumer in the world, consuming about 126 million tons of wheat in 2020. China mainly uses wheat for human food, such as noodles, steamed buns, dumplings, and bread. China also imports wheat from other countries, mainly for animal feed and industrial use.

India: The Second Largest Wheat Producer and Consumer

India is the second largest wheat producer and consumer in the world, producing 108 million tons of wheat from 31 million hectares of land in 2020. India achieved an average yield of 3.5 tons per hectare, which is lower than the world average of 3.8 tons per hectare. India consumes about 97 million tons of wheat per year, mainly for human food, such as chapatis, rotis, parathas, and naan bread. India also exports wheat to neighboring countries, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Russia: The Third Largest Wheat Producer and The Largest Wheat Exporter

Russia is the third largest wheat producer in the world, producing 86 million tons of wheat from 28 million hectares of land in 2020. Russia achieved an average yield of 3.1 tons per hectare, which is also lower than the world average. However, Russia has a competitive advantage in wheat production due to its low production costs and favorable climatic conditions. Russia is also the largest wheat exporter in the world, exporting about 40 million tons of wheat in 2020 to more than 100 countries. Russia mainly exports wheat to Egypt, Turkey, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Indonesia.

United States: The Fourth Largest Wheat Producer and The Second Largest Wheat Exporter

The United States is the fourth largest wheat producer in the world, producing 50 million tons of wheat from 17 million hectares of land in 2020. The United States achieved an average yield of 2.9 tons per hectare, which is slightly lower than the world average. The United States produces different types of wheat, such as hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, durum, and white wheat. The United States consumes about 28 million tons of wheat per year, mainly for human food, such as bread, pasta, pizza, cakes, and cookies. The United States also exports about 26 million tons of wheat per year to more than 70 countries. The United States mainly exports wheat to Mexico, Japan, Philippines, Nigeria, and South Korea.

Australia: The Fifth Largest Wheat Producer and The Third Largest Wheat Exporter

Australia is the fifth largest wheat producer in the world, producing 36 million tons of wheat from 13 million hectares of land in 2020. Australia achieved an average yield of 2.8 tons per hectare, which is close to the world average. Australia produces mainly hard and soft white wheat varieties that are suitable for making breads and noodles. Australia consumes about 7 million tons of wheat per year, mainly for human food and animal feed. Australia also exports about 25 million tons of wheat per year to more than 50 countries. Australia mainly exports wheat to Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Japan, and South Korea.

Global Demand for Wheat: Increasing or Decreasing?

The global demand for wheat has been increasing over the years due to population growth, urbanization, income growth, and changing dietary preferences. According to the FAO, the global consumption of wheat was estimated at 751 million tons in 2020, which was 2% higher than the previous year. The FAO projects that the global consumption of wheat will reach 782 million tons by 2030, which will be 4% higher than the current level.

However, the global demand for wheat also faces some challenges, such as climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, pests and diseases, and trade disputes. These factors may affect the availability, quality, and price of wheat in different regions of the world. Therefore, it is important for the wheat producing countries to adopt sustainable and resilient production practices to ensure food security and environmental protection.

References:

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

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

http://faostat.fao.org/site/567/DesktopDefault.aspx?PageID=567

Wheat Production by Country 2023 – World Population Review

Visualizing Global Wheat Production by Country (2000-2020)

https://www.statista.com/statistics/237908/global-top-wheat-producing-countries/