BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — Argentina’s grain production in the 2021-22 marketing year saw either record or near-record highs across four commodities — wheat, barley, corn and sorghum — according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Argentina’s wheat production in the 2021-22 marketing year is expected to be a record 20.5 million tonnes as favorable weather has improved soil moisture in key production areas and new seed varieties create higher yields. The USDA forecasts wheat exports to total 13.9 million tonnes, including wheat flour, in response to record production and a slight increased in domestic consumption. Argentina’s wheat consumption is anticipated to be 6.4 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year.

Similar to wheat, the country’s barley production in the 2021-22 marketing year is forecast at 4.8 million tonnes, the largest volume since the 2018-19 marketing year. The USDA attributed increased output to expanded planted area of the commodity. Due to increased production barley exports are projected to be larger than the last two marketing years at 3.2 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year. Domestic consumption of barley remains steady at 1.45 million tonnes in line with local malting industry demand.

Argentina’s corn production in the 2021-22 marketing year jumped 3 million tonnes, to 50 million tonnes, as the previous marketing year suffered lower-than-normal yields. Based on an increase in production and a 500,000-tonne domestic consumption increase, the USDA estimated corn exports to total 35 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year. Domestic consumption jumped 3.5% to 14.5 million tonnes.  

Sorghum production in the 2021-22 marketing year is projected to be 4.5 million tonnes, the highest in almost a decade the USDA noted. Assuming demand remains consistent based on the past two marketing years, the USDA anticipates sorghum exports to be 1.6 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year. Domestic sorghum production ticked up to 2.7 million tonnes.