World wheat supplies are tight, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine puts at risk a significant portion of the world’s wheat supply. World wheat ending stocks in the 2021/22 marketing year are estimated at 278 mmt, the lowest since 2016/17 (263 mmt) (USDA, FAS, PSD, 2022). In the current marketing year, Russia is expected to account for about 10 percent of global wheat production (75.16 mmt) and 16 percent of global wheat exports (33.00 mmt) (Figure 1). Ukraine’s wheat production is about four percent of the world total (33.00 mmt) and its 19.00 mmt of exports is 10 percent of the world total.
With its control of the Black Sea, Russia has the ability to continue exporting grain in the midst of this conflict. One impact of economic sanctions may be to change the normal allocation of Russia’s wheat exports. But with strong global demand and Russian wheat priced competitively in global markets, it seems unlikely that total Russian wheat exports will fall substantially.
Ukraine’s ports have been closed since the first day of fighting and the Ukrainian government has banned some grain exports to ensure domestic food supplies. The 2022 wheat crop is at risk not only in active conflict zones but more broadly due to shortages of equipment, fuel, fertilizer, and labor. Where harvest is possible, it is safe to assume infrastructure damage (e.g., storage, roads, rail, ports) will impact the movement of agricultural products from field to international markets.
What is the worlds’ capacity to make up for the loss of wheat exports from Ukraine, which average about 18 mmt, just below the current marketing year’s 19 mmt? In addition, the global wheat trade has increased 11 mmt over the last five years. In the short-term, exports have increased significantly from Argentina, Australia, the EU, India, and Brazil (Figure 1). In the 2021/22 marketing year, Argentina’s exports are up 2 mmt from its most recent five-year average. Australia is projected to export an additional 12 mmt. Exports from the EU are up 5 mmt. India’s wheat exports are up 8 mmt compared to its 5-year average and Brazil’s wheat exports are up 2 mmt. These combine for an increase of 28 mmt.
Major wheat exporters whose sales are down in 2021/22, compared to the 5-year average, are the U.S. and Canada. Both had significantly smaller spring wheat crops in 2021. U.S. wheat exports are down 5 mmt and Canada’s sales down 8 mmt. A return to normal would add 13 mmt to world wheat exports in 2022/23.
All wheat acres in the U.S. for 2022 are up about 700,000 from 2021 to 47.4 million (USDA, Prospective Plantings, 2022). Across the South, wheat acres increased in Alabama (+3%), Arkansas (+5%), Kentucky (+6%), Mississippi (+5%), North Carolina (+16%), Tennessee (+5%), and Virginia (+22%). Wheat acres were unchanged in Oklahoma and Texas. Acres were down in Georgia (-5%), Maryland (-12%), and South Carolina (-4%).
Further complicating the wheat market, drought conditions in the U.S. Southern High Plains look to decrease winter wheat yields and increase unharvested acres in this region. For U.S. and Canadian wheat production to increase and augment exportable supplies, favorable growing conditions are needed for the upcoming spring wheat crop.
While the loss of Ukraine’s wheat crop in 2022 would have a significant impact on world wheat supplies, high commodity prices are providing incentives for agricultural producers around the world to plant more acres. However, the loss of Ukraine’s production amplifies the importance of production disruptions in other wheat producing regions, should issues occur. Longer-term production will certainly increase as weather and crop input availability and affordability allow.
Figure 1. World Wheat Exports, average 2016/17-2020/21 and 2021/22 (million metric tons)
References
USDA, Foreign Agricultural Service, Production, Supply and Distribution, accessed April 12, 2022, https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/app/index.html#/app/advQuery.
USDA, Prospective Plantings, March 31, 2022
USDA, World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, April 9, 2022
Welch, J. Mark. “World Wheat Supplies in Response to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine“. Southern Ag Today 2(17.1). April 18, 2022. Permalink
