Attachments
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
- Planting of 2025 winter cereals ongoing under favourable weather conditions
- Near-average cereal output obtained in 2024
- Wheat import requirements in 2024/25 forecast at below-average level
- Prices of wheat flour remained at near-average level
Planting of 2025 winter cereals ongoing under favourable weather conditions
Planting of the 2025 winter cereal crops, mainly wheat and barley, is ongoing under favourable weather conditions and crops will be harvested from June next year. As of mid-November, early forecasts point to near-average cumulative precipitation amounts in the December 2024 to February 2025 period, with a positive impact on soil moisture levels, and consequently, on crop production.
Near-average cereal output obtained in 2024
Harvesting of the 2024 winter and spring cereals was completed last August. Total 2024 cereal production is estimated at a near-average level of 3.2 million tonnes. The output of wheat is set at 1.8 million tonnes, 5 percent below the five-year average level due to reduced plantings. In addition, 2024 barley production is estimated at 1.09 million tonnes, slightly above the average level, supported by the expansion of the planted area.
Wheat import requirements in 2024/25 forecast at below-average level
In the 2024/25 marketing year (July/June), total cereal import requirements, mostly wheat, are forecast at about 1.2 million tonnes, slightly below the five-year average volume, due to the near-average production in 2024.
Prices of wheat flour remained at near-average level
Retail prices of wheat flour have remained generally stable between November 2023 and October 2024 (latest available data), amid adequate domestic availability. The current exemption of the 18 percent value added tax (VAT) on imports and sales of wheat is expected to be in place until 1 January 2027, with the aim to stabilize the domestic price of wheat, one of the country’s major staple food crops.