Early Estimates Expect 2018/19 Wheat Production to Fall in the Black Sea
By Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, USW Market Analyst
USDA will issue its first 2018/19 U.S. wheat production estimate on Feb. 23 at its Annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, rounding out the estimates already available for Northern Hemisphere wheat exporting countries. Following is a by-country summary of current production estimates.
Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) forecasts 2018/19 Canadian common wheat (excluding durum) production at 24.3 million metric tons (MMT), down 3 percent from 2017/18. A return to average yields is expected that would more than offset a 4 percent increase in wheat planted area. 2018/19 Canadian wheat planted area is forecast at 9.51 million hectares (23.5 million acres). AAFC anticipates an increase in spring wheat planted area that would also offset an 11 percent decrease in winter wheat planted area. Canadian durum production is expected to reach 5.70 MMT, up 15 percent due to increased planted area and increased yields.
European Union. Strategie Grains estimates 2018/19 European Union (EU) common wheat production at 142 MMT, in line with 2017/18 production. A forecasted increase in average yield is expected to offset a slight decrease in planted area. 2018/19 EU wheat planted area is expected to fall slightly to 23.2 million hectares (57.3 million acres) due to lower prices. EU durum production is expected to increase slightly in 2018/19 to 9.20 MMT due to increased planted area in Italy.
Kazakhstan. Stratégie Grains anticipates 2018/19 Kazakhstan wheat production will reach 13.7 MMT, down 2 percent year over year, if realized. Wheat planted area is expected to decrease slightly in 2018/19 to 11.7 million hectares (28.9 million acres) due to lower prices. Nearly all of Kazakhstan production is spring wheat.
Russia. The Russian Ministry of Agriculture expects 2018/19 Russian spring wheat planted area to decrease slightly to 12.9 million hectares (31.9 million acres), down 50,000 hectares (123,000 acres) year over year, if realized. 2018/19 winter wheat planted area remained stable year over year at 14.9 million hectares (36.8 million acres). Stratégie Grains predicts 2018/19 Russian wheat production will fall 9 percent from 2017/18 to 77.3 MMT on the expectation of lower average yields.
Ukraine. UkrAgroConsult forecasts 2018/19 Ukrainian wheat production to total 25.1 MMT, down 4 percent from 2017/18, if realized. An expected reduction in average yields will more than offset an estimated 2 percent increase in wheat planted area. 2018/19 Ukraine winter wheat planted area is estimated at 6.28 million hectares (15.5 million acres).
