The IGC pointed to smaller projected crops in Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Iran, China, Morocco and Australia, which were only partly offset by expected increased production in the European Union, Kazakhstan, the United States, South America and India. The IGC noted the global wheat harvested area was expected to expand by 1.9% to about 223.5 million hectares but added yields weren’t likely to match the record levels seen in 2013-14.
The E.U. crop was forecast at 144.8 million tonnes, up 2.6 million tonnes, or 2%, from 142.2 million tonnes in 2013 and compared with 131.6 million tonnes in 2012. The IGC noted production in both the United Kingdom and Scandinavia should rebound from poor 2013 outturns.
Russian wheat production this year was forecast at 51 million tonnes, down 1.1 million tonnes from 2013. While harvested area was projected to be larger, yields were expected to return to average levels. Ukraine harvested area was forecast to be down 3% from a year ago because of poor weather during winter wheat planting. Ukraine’s crop was forecast at 20 million tonnes, down 10% from 22.3 million tonnes in 2013. Meanwhile, the Kazakhstan crop was forecast at 15 million tonnes, up 1.1 million tonnes from 2013.
The Canadian crop was forecast at 29 million tonnes, down 8.5 million tonnes, or 23%, from a record 37.5 million tonnes in 2013.
“Lower domestic prices and higher carryover stocks are expected to result in reduced plantings in Canada, placed at 9.8 million hectares, down 6% year over year,” the IGC said. The IGC forecast also assumed yield would return to normal after setting a new record high during the previous season.
The IGC forecast U.S. wheat production at 59 million tonnes, up 1 million tonnes from 2013. The IGC forecast a harvested area of 19 million hectares, 4% larger than in 2013.
“To reflect the impact of drought (in the southern Plains) on yields, production is forecast 1 million tonnes lower than before (in March), at 59 million tonnes, but still 2% higher year over year,” the IGC said.
The IGC forecast China’s 2014 wheat crop at 120 million tonnes, down 1.7 million tonnes from 2013. The IGC said despite a slight increase in projected harvested area, the wheat outturn should be smaller this year based on average yields. The IGC forecast India’s crop at 95 million tonnes, which would be up 2% from 2013 and match the record crop harvested in 2012.
“In Australia, plentiful rains across much of the eastern wheat belt improved soil moisture for planting, which is now under way,” the IGC said. “The area is projected slightly larger year over year, at 13.8 million hectares, but with yields likely to return to average, the crop is forecast 5% lower year over year, at 25.5 million tonnes.”
