New Delhi.Due to significantly lower import volumes in Africa and South America, the International Grains Council (IGC) forecasts global trade in wheat flour in the 2022-2023 marketing year to match a recent low of 13.8 million tonnes (wheat equivalent) in the 2020-21 marketing year. a year At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. If realised, it would be 300,000 tonnes less than last year and 200,000 tonnes less than HVK forecast in October.
Global flour trade last decreased in 2013-1 , when 13.2 million tonnes were traded. A report by the NEC published on 12 January explained the situation in sub-Saharan Africa. Amid challenging economic conditions and higher prices for wheat-based products dampening consumer demand, updated trade statistics showed slower-than-expected shipments (to sub-Saharan Africa) from October to November last year, subject to downward revisions. for Angola, Benin and Ghana,” the IGC said. Total shipments to the region of 1.8 million tons would be the lowest in at least 12 years, the IGC said. In South America, Argentina, the largest flour supplier of the region, has been hit by a severe drought that damaged wheat crops and affected flour exports… 000 tons, compared to 7 1,000 tons last year. “The latest available trade data indicates that imports from Bolivia and Brazil in 2022-2023 may remain below last year. levels, although Brazil supplemented Argentina’s stocks with purchases from other neighboring countries – i.e. Para Guay and Uruguay – as in previous years”, announced HVK. “Given the latest changes, shipments to Bolivia and Brazil are at eight-year lows and Brazil at nine-year lows.” Iraq is projected to be the largest importer of flour in 2022-2023 at 2.6 million tons, up from 2.1 million a year ago. However, the HVK noted that the volume “is likely to remain below historical records considering the announced efforts of the government to facilitate local milling.” Afghanistan is expected to be the second largest importer of flour this year at 1.8 million tonnes, up from 1.7 million in 2021-22. Turkey is once again forecast to be the world’s largest flour exporter, with total production this year at .9 million tonnes, slightly more than forecast in October and 500,000 tonnes more than last year. Second-ranked exporter Kazakhstan is forecast to deliver 2. million tonnes in 2022-2023, unchanged from the October forecast and 90,000 tonnes more than last year. Mandi Bhav