US and Canadian Wheat Exports by Top 10 Countries

Aug 4, 2010
Daniel Workman

Wheat Product Sales - D-32 (Flickr)

Find out how the United States and Canada compare in terms of exported wheat sales in 2009 and so far in 2010.

In 2008, the United States shipped US$11.3 billion worth of wheat exports to customers around the world.

Canadian wheat exports in 2008 were valued at $6.6 billion – just a little over half the U.S. total.

There was a seismic shift in that difference during 2009. By the end of last year, American wheat exports fell 52.4% to $5.4 billion.

Canadian wheat shipments dropped more moderately to $5.3 billion.

The analysis below focuses on the top 10 countries that buy exported U.S. and Canadian wheat.

Top Ten Countries for US Wheat Exports

The following top 10 countries consumed 64.1% of America’s total wheat exports in 2009.

Japan … US$795 million, down 50.8% (14.8% of US total)
Nigeria … $744.4 million, down 19.7% (13.8%)
Mexico … $480.6 million, down 53.3% (8.9%)
Philippines … $321.3 million, down 54.3% (6%)
South Korea … $270.9 million, down 48.6% (5%)
Taiwan … $240.7 million, down 26.4% (4.5%)
Thailand … $153.7 million, down 6.5% (2.9%)
Indonesia … $152.8 million, down 58.1% (2.8%)
Yemen … $148.4 million, up 0.9% (2.76%)
Colombia … $141.4 million, down 57.1% (2.6%).

Among these top 10 importers of U.S. wheat, the United States saw their wheat sales decline in 9 countries from 6.5% for Thailand to 58.1% for Indonesia.

The United States was able to increase its wheat sales to Yemen, up by less than 1%.

Top Ten Countries for Canadian Wheat Exports

The United States was the largest importer of Canadian wheat in 2009, followed by Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Only Japan and Indonesia are on the top 10 lists for both U.S and Canadian wheat export.

United States … US$686.8 million, down 34.4% (13% of Canada’s total)
Iraq … $375 million, up 240% (7.1%)
Saudi Arabia … $333.3 million, up from nil (6.3%)
Italy … $316.6 million, up 45.2% (6%)
Japan … $265 million, down 48.7% (5%)
Venezuela … $244.7 million, down 23.3% (4.6%)
Morocco … $217.8 million, up 14.9% (4.1%)
Bangladesh … $215.9 million, up 125.4% (4.1%)
Sri Lanka … $215.6 million, down 27.5% (4.1%)
Indonesia … $215.3 million, down 51.3% (4.1%).

Canada was able to increase wheat export sales to 5 of its top 10 customer countries in 2009. Gains ranged from 14.9% for Morocco to the leading 240% surge for Iraq.

Canadian exporters also won over a significant new customer, Saudi Arabia, which generated the third-largest sales amount.

U.S. Wheat Export Sales So Far in 2010

During the first 5 months of 2010, U.S. wheat exports were down by 1.6% to $2.2 billion.

Wheat exporters in the United States were able to significantly increase sales to the following countries.

Ethiopia … US$60.4 million, up 1,345% from the first 5 months of 2009
Peru … $40.4 million, up 292.5%
Chile … $42.8 million, up 217.6%.

America also added 2 new major clients for the first 5 months of 2010, namely:

Iraq which consumed $64.7 million worth of U.S. wheat
Morocco which consumed $61 million worth of U.S. wheat.

Canadian Wheat Export Sales So Far in 2010

From January to May 2010, wheat exports from Canada were down 23.9% to $1.9 billion. Sales to Iraq were down by 48.7% to $83.9 million, perhaps losing some Iraqi customers to U.S. wheat exporters.

Canadian exporters were able to increase their sales to the following countries, as of May 2010.

South Korea … US$128.3 million, up 600% from the first 5 months of 2009
Peru… $99.9 million, up 24.8%
Bangladesh … $134.8 million, up 20.5%.

Canadian wheat sales had become more competitive against U.S. wheat exports in 2009, but...

Based on data as of May 2010, it looks like United States has recaptured its leading form in growing export sales of wheat. This is particularly among its largest international wheat clients; exports to America’s 15 largest wheat consumers are up by 17.2%.

Meanwhile, Canadian exports of wheat are slowed noticeably during the first 5 months of 2010. In part, this is due to a cutback in Canada’s exported wheat sales to the United States – which may be consuming more of its own American wheat harvest.

Sources: This analysis presents independent calculations and insights based on the United States International Trade Commission’s Interactive Tariff and Trade Dataweb and Industry Canada’s Trade Data Online.