JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Indonesian wheat imports are expected to decrease due to using less of it in feed, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The country does not produce enough wheat domestically and is dependent on imports. Imports of the commodity are anticipated to fall to 9.5 million tonnes in the 2020-21 marketing year compared to the previous estimate of 10 million tonnes. The USDA also revised down its 2021-22 marketing year estimate to 10.5 million tonnes of wheat imports from 10.75 million tonnes as demand is lowered by COVID-19 and decreased purchasing power.

Unlike wheat, Indonesia’s corn imports are expected to reach 900,000 tonnes in the 2020-21 marketing year and 1.3 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year due to an expected increase in wet milling capacity. The USDA increased its consumption estimate of the commodity to 8.9 million tonnes as demand from the feed sector rises.

The Indonesian government is backtracking its previous plan to import one million tonnes of rice in the 2020-21 marketing year as the country is expected to produce 35.3 tonnes of milled rice. The USDA attributes the increase in production to less pest and disease issues. Consumption rate of rice is forecast to fall to 35.8 million tonnes in the 2020-21 marketing year but jump to 36 million tonnes in the 2021-22 marketing year based on expected population growth.