US Wheat Exports Feed Many Countries

Sales of this American Cereal Crop Almost Double in 2007

Aug 23, 2008
Daniel Workman

USA Wheat Exports Grow For Most Countries - Morguefile 182861

Japan imported the most wheat from the United States last year, Iraq increased its American wheat deals by 43.5%, while China cut back on wheat supplies from the USA.

Although China and India produce more wheat than America, the United States is the world’s number one exporter of wheat – the world’s second most-produced cereal grain food next to corn.

This analysis highlights the countries that imported the most American wheat in 2007, as well as those nations that increased or decreased their wheat deliveries from the U.S. by the highest percentages.

During 2007, America shipped US$8.5 billion worth of grain around the globe. That overall amount represents a 99% increase from 2006, and a 112% gain since 2003.

Top 10 U.S. Wheat Importing Countries

During 2007, the following top 10 importers of American wheat consumed 56.2% of total U.S. wheat exports.

Japan … US$797.1 million (9.4% of US exported wheat) – up 39.1% from 2006, up 65.1% from 2003
Egypt … $733.2 million (8.7%) – up 211.6%, up 82.3%
Nigeria … $657.1 million (7.8%) – up 42.7%, up 144.2%
Mexico … $650.2 million (7.7%) – up 50.8%, up 60.6%
Iraq … $413.8 million (4.9%) – up 43.5%, up 3,056.4%
Philippines … $351.9 million (4.2%) – up 9.9%, up 58.7%
Taiwan … $331.5 million (3.9%) – up 106.7%, up 143%
South Korea … $329.3 million (3.9%) – up 74.7%, up 59.6%
Morocco … $256.5 million (3%) – up 618.7%, up 535%
Indonesia … $236.6 million (2.8%) – up 296.7%, up 783.1%.

Since the Second Gulf War began on March 20, 2003, the value of American wheat exports to Iraq has increased by over 3,000%.

Other Leading US Cereal Grain Importers

In total, the 10 countries below account for an additional 17.6% of total American wheat exports.

Venezuela … US$227.9 million (2.7% of US exported wheat) – up 35.4% from 2006, up 93% from 2003
Colombia … $209.8 million (2.5%) – up 135.7%, up 93.7%
Spain … $191.3 million (2.3%) – up 1,731.1%, up 241.6%
Peru … $161 million (1.9%) – up 763.9%, up 58.5%
Italy … $155.8 million (1.8%) – up 78.6%, up 33.5%
South Africa … $147.4 million (1.7%) – up 3,066.1%, up 198.2%
Thailand … $109.6 million (1.3%) – up 35.5%, up 101.8%
Chile … $109 million (1.3%) – up 187.4%, up 200.8%
Brazil … $90.8 million (1.1%) – up 2,844.7%, up 43.5%
Bangladesh … $88.5 million (1%) – up 674.8%, up 670.2%.

The above list includes 4 of South America’s larger economies, plus Bangladesh with its population of 153.4 million.

Biggest Sales Percentage Increases by US Wheat Importing Country

The following countries grew their imports of American wheat by the highest percentages.

Turkey … US$11.8 million – up 28,790% from 2006, up from NIL in 2003
Netherlands … $17.5 million – up 28,174%, up 11.5%
Australia … $5.5 million – up 13,332%, up 7,767%
South Africa … $147.4 million – up 3,066%, up 198.2%
Brazil … $11.8 million – up 2,845%, up 43.5%
United Arab Emirates … $40.8 million – up 2,558%, up 509,550%
Portugal … $38.9 million – up 2,289%, up 119.3%
Spain … $191.3 million – up 1,731%, up 241.6%
Vietnam … $37.2 million – up 1,121%, up 644.8%
Peru … $161 million – up 763.9%, up 58.5%.

Biggest Sales Percentage Decreases by US Wheat Importing Country

In 2007, U.S. wheat imports into Lebanon plummeted from $5.4 million to nil. Austria, Denmark and Finland also did not import any wheat from the United States last year. Greece and Kuwait each imported only $4,000 worth of the grain.

The following countries decreased their deliveries of American wheat by the highest percentages.

China … US$6.5 million - down 71.5% from 2006, down 81.8% from 2003
Ukraine ... $23,000 - down 48.9%, up from NIL in 2003.

The world’s leading wheat-farming nation China continues to decrease its reliance on U.S. food imports. The People’s Republic has elected to feed its 1.3 billion citizens with Chinese-grown grains while cutting back on U.S. wheat imports. So while America is increasing its cereal crop exports to most countries around the globe, China is definitely one big trading partner going against the wheat grain.