In this piece, we are going to look at the 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world. If you wish to skip our discussion on the global grain industry, you can go directly to 5 Biggest Grain Exporting Countries in the World.
The world’s population is growing at a rapid pace, as the global population saw an uptick of 75 million in 2023, according to U.S. government, and furthermore, it is projected to climb from roughly 8 billion in 2024 to 10 billion by 2050, according to United Nations! Read more in 20 Most Important Companies in the World.
As such, agriculture plays one important role in feeding such fast-growing population of the world. Grains, which are essential output of agriculture sector, play a role of staples in various consumers’ diets; thus, grains like wheat, corn, rice, barley, and oats are grains that are most consumed by people for their calorie needs.
For example, wheat’s significance on the global scale is quite high, with an average annual per capita consumption of 65.6 kg, with it exceeding per capita consumption of 50 in more than 102 countries of the world, according to Insider Monkey article. The global agriculture sector is marked by varying factors like crop yields, import/export policies and climatic conditions. In addition to consumers’ needs, grains also cater to livestock needs, which raises the role of grains in day-to-day life of the world.
Thus, the market of grain products is expected to see a robust growth in the coming years; in 2024, it is expected to hit $393.84 billion, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from $368.71 in 2023. Moreover, this growth is expected to continue in the following years as well, where it’s expected of the industry to grow 6.3%, reaching whopping $503.37 billion mark by 2028, according to The Business Research Company! This growth is not only attributed to the growing population, and hence rising demand, but also to the improvement in crop yields due to availability of super technology, helping farmers achieve sustainability in farming. To know about such technological advancements taking place, head over to the Insider Monkeyarticle.
Under the broader category of grains, wheat is one that is most sought for, and is one that is extensively grown and is most demanded. Bread, pasta, or baked goods, almost everything that’s consumed for dietary purposes consists of wheat, signifying its importance in the global grain market, and hence, it sits at the 3rd place in context of top grains produced in the world, after rice and maize.
Taking its origins in ancient Mesopotamia’s temperate climate, wheat has come a long way to catering to human needs. "Wheat, everyone in the world eats it, but not everyone can grow it," says French economist Bruno Parmentier, author of "Feeding Humanity". In terms of wheat producing countries, China leads the chart, as, in the last two decades, it has produced more than 2.4 billion tons of wheat, which accounts for 17% of the global production, according to World Economic Forum!
On the global scale, wheat production was 789.35 million metric tons in the 2022/23 season, growing at a CAGR of 0.73% from 2014 to 2023; the average yearly production of wheat for the same timeline is noted to be 760.77 million metric tons. Also, other top producers of wheat are India, Russia, and USA, who account for 14%, 12% and 6% of the global production, respectively, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture; European Union, on the other hand, together, owns the same share as China in the global production, which equals 17%, showcasing China’s supremacy in the wheat market! On the consumption side, Asia is the biggest consumer with 53% of the global consumption, along with Europe that has 26% of the global consumption of wheat.
In the realm of grain exports, Russia sits as a prominent player, as it leads the global industry, along with few others. Russia, in the 2022-23 period, was reported to be exporting whopping 45+ million metric tons of wheat, according to US Department of Agriculture and S&P Global, due to the low prices, amidst the conflict with Ukraine, also meaning that although export volume might be all-time high, the export value not really so. Australia and U.S. are other countries that top the ladder, alongside Russia, which are all going to be discussed in detail in a little while.
Since we have already discussed the grains industry, we would not do justice to the analysis without discussing few prominent companies in the industry. Namely, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM), Corteva, Inc (NYSE:CTVA), and Nutrien (NYSE:NTR) are about to be discussed.
Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM)
Engaged in processing of food ingredients, animal feeds and biofuels, Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM), a U.S. based company, does so through handling of vast crops like soybeans, corn, and wheat. Moreover, their innovation helps them come up with products such as vegetable protein, high-fructose corn syrup, ethanol, and Omega-3 fatty acids.
Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM), a top global agricultural company, saw its 2023 revenue hitting $93.94 billion mark, which saw a downtick of 7.5% from prior year’s revenue of $101.56 billion; on the other hand, the company’s earnings were $3.48 billion for the period, which were also down by 19.75%. Also, the company’s diluted earnings per share amounted to $6.43 for the full year.
Corteva, Inc (NYSE:CTVA)
Corteva (NYSE:CTVA) is a U.S. company that specializes in making products that ensure crop protection. The products that they make are herbicides, insecticides and seed products, handling crops like corn, wheat, soybeans, to name a few. They also offer services of soil testing and crop scouting, along with soil mapping; also, they provide crop-growing entities with planting technology to up their yields.
The company disclosed their financial performance in which their revenue was recorded at $17.23 billion, which was down 1.31% from its 2022 revenue of $17.46 billion. Their seeds’ net sales saw an uptick of 5%, while their crop protection sales fell by 9%, due to volume fall in the American regions. Looking forward, the company expects robust growth, as it eyes revenues to be lying between the range of $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion till 2025.
Nutrien (NYSE:NTR)
Nutrien (NYSE:NTR) is known for its making of fertilizers of phosphate, nitrogen, and potash, along with providing products that protect crops, and also offering crop seeds. Being a Canada-based company, Nutrien was incorporated in 2018, and it was a result of merger of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan and Agrium.
For the year 2023, the company boasted a revenue of whopping $29.06 billion, which was itself down from prior year’s revenue of staggering $37.88 billion – showcasing the continued success of the company. The yearly decrease in revenue was attributed to Russian-Ukraine conflict, which had caused the prices to soar, resulting in lower revenue volume.
20 Biggest Grain Exporting Countries in the World
A wheat field at sunset, showing the company's commitment to agricultural commodities.
Methodology
To curate a list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world, we sourced data from International Trade Centre on Exports of Wheat and Meslin for each country for the year 2022. Wheat has been used as a proxy for grain exports as wheat is the most widely globally traded cereal, with 25% of global wheat production being exported. Countries have been ranked on the basis of quantity of wheat exported in tons, with countries with higher exports ranking higher on the list. With this approach, we present to you a comprehensive ranking for 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world.
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20. United Kingdom
Quantity Exported: 815,848 tons
Starting our list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world with United Kingdom. In 2022, the United Kingdom exported $304 million worth of wheat. Interestingly, wheat stood as the 203rd most exported product from the UK in the same year. Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, and Belgium were the primary destinations for wheat exports from the UK. Spain led at $113 million, followed by the Netherlands at $69.6 million, Ireland at $62.9 million, Portugal at $21.6 million, and Belgium at $12.7 million, according to OEC.
19. Slovakia
Quantity Exported: 1,182,368 tons
Slovakia's wheat exports totaled $430.8 million in 2022; over the span of 19 years, from 2003 to 2022, Slovakia's wheat exports surged from $3,362,000 to $430,834,000, experiencing an impressive average annual growth rate of 47.03%. In terms of wheat flours’ exports destination, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland were the top destinations with $10.2 million, $6.93 million, and $1.59 million imports, respectively, for the period 2021-22, according to OEC.
18. Hungary
Quantity Exported: 2,136,168 tons
In 2022, Hungary exported $703 million worth of wheat, ranking it as the 18th largest wheat exporter globally; wheat stood as the 41st most exported product from Hungary in the same year. During the period between 2021 and 2022, Austria, Germany, and Greece emerged as the fastest-growing export markets for Hungarian wheat, with Austria experiencing an increase of $68.7 million, Germany of $22.2 million, and Greece of $3.02 million. The primary destinations for Hungary's wheat exports were Italy, Austria, Germany, Romania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Italy being the top destination at $300 million, followed by Austria at $192 million, Germany at $62.5 million, Romania at $43.9 million, and Bosnia and Herzegovina at $42.6 million, according to OEC.
17. Czech Republic
Quantity Exported: 2,270,793 tons
In 2022, wheat exports for the Czech Republic amounted to $763.4 million. However, Czech wheat exports have shown significant fluctuations in recent years; between August 2022 and January of the following year, Czech wheat exports decreased by 200,000 tons, contributing to the increase in stored wheat, according to Reuters. For the period 2023/24, the country expects grain harvests reducing by 0.6 million tons to 7 million tons, according to KazakhZerno.kz. Czech Republic is 17th on our list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world.
16. Latvia
Quantity Exported: 2,682,459 tons
Latvia exported $1.22 billion worth of wheat in 2022, ranking it as the 15th largest wheat exporter globally, according to OEC. Wheat was the second most exported product from Latvia in the same year. The primary destinations for Latvia's wheat exports were Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Angola, and the Netherlands, with Nigeria being the top destination at $498 million, followed by Saudi Arabia at $132 million, Spain at $118 million, Angola at $84.4 million, and the Netherlands at $57.1 million.
15. Lithuania
Quantity Exported: 2,959,198 tons
Lithuania ranks 15th on the list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world. Lithuania exported wheat valued at $1.46 billion in the year 2022, during which wheat ranked as the 4th most exported product from Lithuania. The primary destinations for Lithuania's wheat exports were Nigeria, Latvia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya, with Nigeria being the top destination at $654 million, followed by Latvia at $126 million, Spain at $103 million, Saudi Arabia at $94.7 million, and Kenya at $58.5 million, according to OEC.
14. Brazil
Quantity Exported: 3,072,778 tons
In 2022, Brazil exported wheat worth $1.07 billion, making it the 35th most exported product in the country in the year, helping it bag 12th place on our list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world. Key destinations of these exports were Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa, and Morocco. Saudi Arabia led with imports worth $196 million, followed closely by Indonesia at $191 million. Between 2021 and 2022, Indonesia, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia saw the fastest growth in Brazilian wheat imports, with increases of $110 million, $104 million, and $99.7 million, respectively.
13. Poland
Quantity Exported: 3,637,955 tons
Poland set a new record for wheat production in 2022, reaching 13.5 million tons, which was an increase of approximately 1.3 million tons compared to the previous year. Wheat ranked as the 48th most exported product from Poland in the same year. Germany, Nigeria, South Africa, Israel, and Angola were the primary destinations for Poland's wheat exports, with Germany topping the list at $446 million, followed by Nigeria at $301 million, South Africa at $107 million, Israel at $85.3 million, and Angola at $84.3 million, according to OEC.
12. Bulgaria
Quantity Exported: 4,051,293 tons
In 2022, Bulgaria exported wheat valued at $1.72 billion, ranking it as the 12th largest wheat exporter globally. Wheat was the 4th most exported product from Bulgaria in the same year. Between 2021 and 2022, the fastest-growing export markets for Bulgarian wheat were Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia, with increases of $454 million, $228 million, and $66.4 million, respectively, according to OEC. Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Greece, and Pakistan were the primary destinations for Bulgaria's wheat exports, with Algeria leading at $476 million, followed by Egypt at $228 million, Tunisia at $168 million, Greece at $161 million, and Pakistan at $147 million. Bulgaria stands at 12th place on our list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world.
11. Romania
Quantity Exported: 5,685,341 tons
Romania exported wheat worth of $3.14 billion in the year 2022. Wheat was the 5th most exported product from Romania in the same year. The primary destinations for Romania's wheat exports were Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Pakistan, and Italy, with Egypt topping the list at $958 million, followed by Jordan at $689 million, Algeria at $331 million, Pakistan at $251 million, and Italy at $124 million, according to OEC.
10. Kazakhstan
Quantity Exported: 6,345,841 tons
Kazakhstan stands as the leading grain producer in Central Asia, with the ability to export about half of its annual grain production, and is placed 10th on our list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world. The country’s production volume hit 16.4 million tons in the period 2022-23, which was the most since 2017-18, according to World Grain. On the other hand, in 2022, Kazakhstan exported wheat valued at $1.91 billion, with export volume being 6.4 million tons, making it the 10th largest wheat exporter globally. Wheat ranked as the 9th most exported product from Kazakhstan in 2022. The fastest-growing export markets for Kazakhstani wheat between 2021 and 2022 were Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan, with increases of $197 million, $70.1 million, and $69.9 million, respectively, according to OEC.
9. India
Quantity Exported: 6,798,598 tons
In the spring of 2022, with global wheat prices surging due to Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, India seemed ready to step in and help meet the demand on the world market. With plentiful harvests in recent years and record-high stockpiles, India was positioned to become a significant player in international wheat trade.
In the 12 months leading up to March 2022, India, the world's second-largest wheat producer after China, exported nearly 7 million tons of wheat, marking a 250% increase from the previous marketing year. This signaled a new era of opportunity for Indian wheat producers. In context of the destinations of these exports, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Korea stoop atop with $735 million, $325 million, and $223 million imports, respectively, according to OEC!
8. Germany
Quantity Exported: 6,204,985 tons
In 2022, Germany exported wheat worth $2.42 billion, ranking it as the 8th on the list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world. Wheat stood as the 141st most exported product from Germany in the same year. Furthermore, the primary destinations for Germany's wheat exports were Iran, the Netherlands, Belgium, Morocco, and Nigeria, with Iran leading at $429 million, followed by the Netherlands at $304 million, Belgium at $209 million, Morocco at $149 million, and Nigeria at $142 million.
7. Argentina
Quantity Exported: 10,161,432 tons
In the year 2022, Argentina exported wheat valued at $4.77 billion, ranking it as the 7th on the list of 20 biggest grain exporting countries in the world. Wheat was the 4th most exported product from Argentina that year. The primary destinations for Argentina's wheat exports were Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Morocco, and Algeria, with Brazil leading at $1.38 billion, followed by Nigeria at $444 million, Indonesia at $414 million, Morocco at $223 million, and Algeria at $217 million, according to OEC.
Between 2021 and 2022, the fastest-growing export markets for Argentine wheat were Nigeria, Indonesia, and Peru, with increases of $336 million, $282 million, and $182 million, respectively!
6. Ukraine
Quantity Exported: 11,223,215 tons
Ukraine plays a significant role in supplying wheat worldwide, accounting for around 6 percent of global exports, according to World Bank. When Russia's invasion disrupted the flow of Ukrainian grain, there were concerns about a potential global food crisis. Time to time, the exports were hampered, as the access to Black Sea, through which 90% of grain left the country before the war, was disrupted by Russian blockade. Nevertheless, Ukraine exported $3.27 billion worth of wheat in 2022, ranking it as the 6th largest wheat exporter globally. These exports mostly went to Turkey, Egypt, and Romania, who imported $479 million, $430 million, and $329 million, respectively.
