AMMAN, JORDAN – Jordan’s wheat imports for 2018-19 are forecast to reach 1.1 million tonnes, up slightly from the previous year and in line with projected domestic consumption forecasts, according to an Oct. 24 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Jordan, which is not a major wheat producer, is forecast to harvest 20,000 tonnes in 2018-19, unchanged from 2017-18.

USDA forecasts the country’s wheat consumption this year at 1.12 million tonnes, down 2% from last year’s total.

Although Jordan gets most of its wheat from Romania, it may increase its intake from the U.S. this year, USDA said.

“With the approval of Jordanian banks’ registration and participation in the USDA’s Export Guarantee Program, we foresee the possibility of some 100,000 tonnes of new U.S.-origin wheat import in marketing year 2018-19,” USDA noted. “Thanks to the reform of the bread subsidy program earlier this year, niche demand for higher quality U.S. wheat is a growing possibility.”