wheat
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Indonesia has supplanted Egypt as the world’s largest wheat importer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report released on Feb. 8. Projected imports are increased for Indonesia 1 million tonnes to 12.5 million on increases for both food and feed use, the report said.

Global 2017-18 wheat supplies increased, primarily on higher production forecasts for Argentina and Ukraine. Argentina’s wheat production increased by 500,000 tonnes to 18 million based on higher-than-expected yields from the later harvest stages. Ukraine wheat production increased 481,000 tonnes to 27 million based on updated government data.

World 2017-18 trade is raised in February as higher exports from Russia, Argentina, and Canada more than offset reduced exports from the E.U. and the United States.

Projected imports are increased for Indonesia and several African countries while reduced for India, the E.U., Iran, Brazil, and Mexico.

Total world consumption is projected 3.1 million tonnes higher, primarily on greater usage from Indonesia and China. Projected global ending stocks are 1.9 million tonnes lower this month at 266.1 million but remain significantly higher than a year ago.