7 Top Wheat Exporting Countries in 2022: A Comprehensive Guide

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world, providing food for billions of people and feed for livestock. It is also a major commodity in the international grain trade, with many countries competing to produce and export wheat to meet the global demand. In this article, we will look at the top wheat exporting countries in 2022, based on the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other sources. We will also explore the factors that influence wheat production and trade, such as climate, policies, prices, and quality.

Australia: The Leading Wheat Exporter in 2022

Australia is the top wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$10.2 billion, accounting for 15.4% of the total wheat exports. Australia has a large area of arable land, suitable for growing wheat and other crops. It also has a favorable climate, with dry and hot summers and mild winters, which reduces the risk of pests and diseases. Australia produces high-quality wheat, especially hard wheat, which is preferred for making bread and noodles. Australia exports wheat to more than 60 countries, mainly in Asia and the Middle East, where it faces competition from other exporters like Russia and Ukraine.

United States: The Second-Largest Wheat Exporter in 2022

The United States is the second-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$8.52 billion, representing 12.9% of the total wheat exports. The United States has a diverse and productive agricultural sector, with wheat being one of its major crops. The United States grows different types of wheat, such as hard red winter, hard red spring, soft red winter, durum, and white wheat, to meet the various needs of domestic and foreign markets. The United States exports wheat to more than 100 countries, mainly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where it competes with other exporters like Canada and Argentina.

Canada: The Third-Largest Wheat Exporter in 2022

Canada is the third-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$7.9 billion, accounting for 12% of the total wheat exports. Canada has a vast land area, with about half of it suitable for agriculture. Canada produces mainly hard red spring wheat, which is known for its high protein content and gluten strength. Canada also grows durum wheat, which is used for making pasta and couscous. Canada exports wheat to more than 70 countries, mainly in Asia, Europe, and Africa, where it faces competition from other exporters like France and Russia.

France: The Fourth-Largest Wheat Exporter in 2022

France is the fourth-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$7.4 billion, representing 11.2% of the total wheat exports. France is the largest agricultural producer in the European Union (EU), which consists of 27 countries that are also involved in wheat production and trade. France produces mainly soft wheat, which is used for making pastries, cakes, biscuits, and animal feed. France also grows some hard wheat and durum wheat. France exports wheat to more than 130 countries, mainly in Africa, Asia, and Europe, where it faces competition from other EU members like Germany and Romania.

Russia: The Fifth-Largest Wheat Exporter in 2022

Russia is the fifth-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$6.8 billion, accounting for 10.3% of the total wheat exports. Russia has a huge land area, with about one-fifth of it suitable for agriculture. Russia produces mainly hard wheat, which is used for making bread and flour. Russia also grows some soft wheat and durum wheat. Russia exports wheat to more than 100 countries, mainly in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where it faces competition from other exporters like Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Other Notable Wheat Exporters in 2022

Besides the top five wheat exporters mentioned above, there are other countries that play a significant role in the global wheat trade. Some of them are:

Argentina: The sixth-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$3.1 billion, representing 4.7% of the total wheat exports. Argentina produces mainly soft wheat, which is used for making pastries, cakes, biscuits, and animal feed. Argentina exports wheat to more than 50 countries, mainly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, where it faces competition from other exporters like Brazil and Uruguay.

Ukraine: The seventh-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$2.7 billion, accounting for 4% of the total wheat exports. Ukraine produces mainly hard wheat, which is used for making bread and flour. Ukraine also grows some soft wheat and durum wheat. Ukraine exports wheat to more than 80 countries, mainly in Asia, Africa, and Europe, where it faces competition from other exporters like Russia and Romania.

Germany: The eighth-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with an estimated value of US$2.2 billion, representing 3.3% of the total wheat exports. Germany is the second-largest agricultural producer in the EU, after France. Germany produces mainly soft wheat, which is used for making pastries, cakes, biscuits, and animal feed. Germany also grows some hard wheat and durum wheat. Germany exports wheat to more than 120 countries, mainly in Europe, Africa, and Asia, where it faces competition from other EU members like France and Poland.

Factors Influencing Wheat Production and Trade

Wheat production and trade are influenced by various factors, such as climate, policies, prices, and quality. Some of these factors are:

Climate: Wheat is a temperate crop that requires moderate temperatures and rainfall to grow well. However, climate change and extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, heat waves, frosts, and pests, can affect wheat yields and quality. For example, in 2021, severe droughts in Canada and the United States reduced their wheat production and exports, while heavy rains in France and Germany improved their wheat output and exports.

Policies: Wheat production and trade are also affected by the policies of different countries, such as subsidies, tariffs, quotas, export bans, import restrictions, quality standards, and sanitary measures. For example, in 2021, Russia imposed an export tax on wheat to curb domestic inflation and ensure food security, while India lifted its export ban on wheat to take advantage of high global prices.

Prices: Wheat prices are determined by the supply and demand of the global market, as well as the costs of production, transportation, storage, and processing. Wheat prices can fluctuate due to various factors, such as weather conditions, crop forecasts, stock levels, currency exchange rates, trade disputes, and consumer preferences. For example, in 2021, wheat prices reached their highest level since 2014 due to strong demand from China and lower supplies from major exporters.

Quality: Wheat quality refers to the physical and chemical characteristics of the grain that affect its suitability for different uses. Wheat quality depends on various factors, such as variety, growing conditions, harvesting methods, storage conditions, milling processes, and testing methods. Wheat quality can affect the price and competitiveness of wheat exports in the global market. For example, high-protein hard wheat is usually more expensive and sought-after than low-protein soft wheat.

Top Wheat Exporting Countries in 2022

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, providing food for billions of people and feed for livestock. It is also a major commodity in the international grain trade, with many countries exporting and importing wheat to meet their domestic demand and supply. In this blog post, we will look at the top wheat exporting countries in 2022, based on the data from World’s Top Exports and FAOSTAT.

Australia: The Leader of Wheat Exports

Australia was the leader of wheat exports in 2022, with a total value of US$10.2 billion, accounting for 15.4% of the global wheat exports. Australia’s wheat production was boosted by favorable weather conditions and high yields, resulting in a record harvest of 33.3 million tons in 2021-22. Australia’s main wheat export markets were China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea.

United States: The Second-Largest Wheat Exporter

The United States was the second-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with a total value of US$8.52 billion, representing 12.9% of the global wheat exports. The United States produced 47.7 million tons of wheat in 2021-22, slightly lower than the previous year due to drought and heat stress in some regions. The United States exported wheat to more than 100 countries, with Mexico, Japan, Nigeria, Philippines and China being the top five destinations.

Canada: The Third-Largest Wheat Exporter

Canada was the third-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with a total value of US$7.9 billion, accounting for 12% of the global wheat exports. Canada harvested 32.3 million tons of wheat in 2021-22, up by 14% from the previous year due to higher planted area and improved yields. Canada’s main wheat export markets were China, Indonesia, Japan, United States and Bangladesh.

France: The Fourth-Largest Wheat Exporter

France was the fourth-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with a total value of US$7.4 billion, representing 11.2% of the global wheat exports. France produced 36.1 million tons of wheat in 2021-22, up by 25% from the previous year thanks to favorable weather and good crop conditions. France exported wheat mainly to Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and China.

Russia: The Fifth-Largest Wheat Exporter

Russia was the fifth-largest wheat exporter in 2022, with a total value of US$6.8 billion, accounting for 10.3% of the global wheat exports. Russia harvested 85.9 million tons of wheat in 2021-22, down by 7% from the previous year due to dry and hot weather in some regions. Russia imposed an export tax on wheat from February to June 2022 to curb domestic inflation and ensure food security. Russia’s main wheat export markets were Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Vietnam.

References:

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

Wheat Exports by Country 2022 – World’s Top Exports

List of countries by wheat exports – Wikipedia

Flour Power: A Look At The Top Wheat Exports By Country

Wheat | OEC – The Observatory of Economic Complexity