The world’s top exporters of wheat as measured by weight are Russia, Australia, United States of America, Canada, Ukraine, and France. Collectively, those 6 leading suppliers of wheat on international markets sold 134.6 million tons of wheat during 2021 or about two-thirds (66.1%) of globally exported wheat by weight.
Higher volumes of exported wheat loosely correspond with lower average unit prices for wheat when you factor in economies of scale. For instance, all 10 biggest wheat exporters sold that commodity onto international markets in 2021 at average unit prices lower than the global average price of US$499 per ton calculated for all wheat-shipping countries.
Top Wheat Export Countries by Shipment Weight
The top 50 exporters of wheat as measured by tonnage are listed below. Based on weight statistics, these key suppliers of wheat on international markets accounted for 99.99% of the world’s wheat exported in 2021.
| Wheat Exporter | Tons | 2020-1 | 2017-21 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 27,366,371 | -26.6% | -17.1% |
| 2 | Australia | 26,176,094 | +149.7% | +18.5% |
| 3 | United States | 24,014,798 | -8.5% | -12% |
| 4 | Canada | 21,547,166 | -17.5% | +4.6% |
| 5 | Ukraine | 19,394,935 | +7.4% | +12% |
| 6 | France | 16,096,790 | -18.7% | +5.7% |
| 7 | Argentina | 11,531,329 | +13.1% | -12% |
| 8 | Germany | 7,059,940 | -24% | -10.5% |
| 9 | Romania | 6,941,076 | +59.8% | +18.7% |
| 10 | India | 6,090,607 | +555.8% | +2916% |
| 11 | Bulgaria | 5,122,009 | +58.6% | +22.3% |
| 12 | Kazakhstan | 4,517,753 | -13.1% | +6.1% |
| 13 | Trinidad/Tobago | 4,260,921 | -34.2% | +316.2% |
| 14 | Poland | 3,591,490 | -23.4% | +30.9% |
| 15 | Lithuania | 3,053,946 | -23.3% | +2.1% |
| 16 | Czech Republic | 2,379,677 | -8.4% | -9.9% |
| 17 | Latvia | 2,195,221 | -26.6% | +1.7% |
| 18 | UAE | 1,202,048 | 0% | +2398% |
| 19 | Slovakia | 1,172,666 | -7.7% | +4.8% |
| 20 | Brazil | 1,129,349 | +101.4% | +82.8% |
| 21 | Serbia | 1,070,846 | +145.3% | +195.1% |
| 22 | Iraq | 943,837 | +122159% | +354726% |
| 23 | Moldova | 871,486 | +541.4% | +30.5% |
| 24 | Austria | 750,806 | +21.3% | +2.8% |
| 25 | Belgium | 641,418 | +1% | -10.2% |
| 26 | Sweden | 604,578 | -42.9% | -14.3% |
| 27 | Croatia | 547,009 | -2.8% | +53.4% |
| 28 | Uruguay | 536,456 | +25.2% | +125.4% |
| 29 | Greece | 531,479 | +84.9% | +152.8% |
| 30 | Estonia | 433,870 | -38.9% | -18.3% |
| 31 | Paraguay | 337,501 | +19.3% | -3.7% |
| 32 | Spain | 298,795 | 0% | +14% |
| 33 | Turkey | 265,066 | +112.7% | +530.9% |
| 34 | South Africa | 264,092 | +44.6% | +233.6% |
| 35 | Italy | 206,915 | +216.3% | -64.3% |
| 36 | Netherlands | 198,531 | -20.3% | -51.5% |
| 37 | Slovenia | 100,649 | +17.9% | +15.4% |
| 38 | Belarus | 49,833 | +129.8% | +13083% |
| 39 | Ireland | 47,743 | +60.7% | +248.9% |
| 40 | Bosnia/Herzegovina | 40,405 | +10.7% | +29.7% |
| 41 | Syria | 38,265 | -68.9% | +13469% |
| 42 | Uzbekistan | 26,773 | -41.9% | -90.4% |
| 43 | Luxembourg | 23,034 | -24.1% | -7.3% |
| 44 | North Macedonia | 19,266 | +272.5% | +13.5% |
| 45 | Oman | 11,891 | +3297% | +264.5% |
| 46 | Sri Lanka | 8,593 | +200.5% | +185.9% |
| 47 | Lebanon | 8,446 | 0% | +240.6% |
| 48 | Mozambique | 7,840 | -21.8% | +7093% |
| 49 | Senegal | 7,500 | +65.9% | +2312% |
| 50 | China | 4,324 | 0% | -56.6% |
The fastest-growing major exporters of wheat from 2020 to 2021 are Iraq (up 122,159%), Oman (up 3,297%), India (up 555.8%), Moldova (up 541.4%), North Macedonia (up 272.5%), Italy (up 216.3%) and Sri Lanka (up 200.5%).
Posting the greatest percentage declines in tons of exported wheat from year to year were Syria (down -68.9%), Sweden (down -42.9%), Uzbekistan (down -41.9%), Estonia (down -38.9%), Latvia (down -26.6%) and Russia (down -26.6%).
Searchable List of Average Unit Price for Exported Wheat
The world’s average unit price per ton of exported wheat was an estimated US$499 for 2021, down -10.8% from $559 per ton in 2017 but up by 11.1% compared to a unit price of $449 for 2020.
The automated table below enables you to compare the average unit price for exported wheat for 50 of the world’s biggest exporters of wheat by weight. Amounts shown are in US dollars.
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns in the data table below. The right-most columns highlight the change in unit price for each supplier’s globally exported wheat in 2021 compared to 2020 or 5 years earlier in 2017. (A value of 0% in one of those columns means data for that year was unavailable.)
| Wheat Exporter | Avg Price | 2020-1 | 2017-21 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | $267 | +25.9% | +52.6% |
| 2 | Australia | $277 | +6.9% | +30.7% |
| 3 | United States | $303 | +25.7% | +35.9% |
| 4 | Canada | $308 | +27.8% | +24.7% |
| 5 | Ukraine | $244 | +22.6% | +53.5% |
| 6 | France | $283 | +23.6% | +43.7% |
| 7 | Argentina | $258 | +29.6% | +43.3% |
| 8 | Germany | $281 | +24.3% | +39.1% |
| 9 | Romania | $262 | +20.2% | +35.8% |
| 10 | India | $283 | +8% | +3.7% |
| 11 | Bulgaria | $268 | +23.5% | +44.1% |
| 12 | Kazakhstan | $248 | +13.2% | +60% |
| 13 | Poland | $277 | +24.2% | +41.3% |
| 14 | Lithuania | $271 | +18.3% | +35.5% |
| 15 | Czech Republic | $248 | +23.4% | +38.5% |
| 16 | Latvia | $276 | +27.2% | +41.5% |
| 17 | UAE | $352 | +6.7% | +21.8% |
| 18 | Slovakia | $284 | +27.9% | +44.2% |
| 19 | Brazil | $252 | +26.6% | +51.8% |
| 20 | Serbia | $252 | +23.5% | +38.5% |
| 21 | Iraq | $350 | -46.5% | 0% |
| 22 | Moldova | $238 | +17.8% | +50.6% |
| 23 | Austria | $343 | +11% | +28.5% |
| 24 | Belgium | $341 | +17.2% | +31.2% |
| 25 | Sweden | $280 | +23.9% | +42.9% |
| 26 | Croatia | $269 | +33.2% | +40.8% |
| 27 | Uruguay | $261 | +19.2% | +52.6% |
| 28 | Greece | $393 | +26.8% | +54.1% |
| 29 | Estonia | $286 | +28.8% | +58.9% |
| 30 | Paraguay | $264 | +22.8% | +53.5% |
| 31 | Spain | $453 | +56.6% | +56.2% |
| 32 | Turkey | $369 | +16.4% | +4.5% |
| 33 | South Africa | $359 | +22.9% | -7.2% |
| 34 | Italy | $454 | +5.8% | +55.5% |
| 35 | Netherlands | $313 | +17.2% | +21.8% |
| 36 | Slovenia | $287 | +29.9% | +27% |
| 37 | Belarus | $205 | +6.8% | -57.2% |
| 38 | Ireland | $328 | +33.9% | +37.2% |
| 39 | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $289 | +26.8% | +37% |
| 40 | Syria | $358 | +61.3% | +44.4% |
| 41 | Uzbekistan | $239 | +18.9% | +25.1% |
| 42 | Luxembourg | $318 | +19.1% | +54.4% |
| 43 | North Macedonia | $285 | +35.7% | +68.6% |
| 44 | Oman | $284 | -24.7% | -0.4% |
| 45 | Sri Lanka | $380 | +30.6% | +25.8% |
| 46 | Lebanon | $142 | -44.5% | -44.3% |
| 47 | Mozambique | $292 | -4.3% | -97.9% |
| 48 | Senegal | $426 | +17.7% | +57.8% |
| 49 | China | $459 | +8.5% | +11.1% |
| 50 | Portugal | $383 | +38.8% | +78.1% |
In 2021, the average unit price specific to the above 50 leading exporters of wheat was $303 per ton. That metric is well below the overall world average price of $499 encompassing all wheat-shipping countries.
The lowest average unit prices per ton among the top 50 wheat exporters belong to Lebanon, Belarus, Moldova and Uzbekistan. Other low-cost wheat suppliers to global markets include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Czech Republic and Brazil.
The fastest growers in average unit price from 2020 to 2021 are Syria (up 61.3%), Spain (up 56.6%), Portugal (up 38.8%), North Macedonia (up 35.7%), Ireland (up 33.9%), Croatia (up 33.2%) and Sri Lanka (up 30.6%).
Year over year, there were 4 reductions in average unit price. Those international suppliers were Iraq (down -46.5% from 2020), Lebanon (down -44.5%), Oman (down -24.7%) and Mozambique (down -4.3%).
Average Unit Price for Top 10 Wheat Exporters by Sales
The list below is sorted in descending order by the 10 major exporters of wheat by dollar sales, showcasing each country’s corresponding average unit price per ton of globally exported wheat in US dollars.
These key suppliers sold almost four-fifths (78.7%) of overall wheat exports by sales in 2021 and are listed in descending rank. The list starts with the biggest exporters of wheat in terms of total dollar sales.
- Russia: US$267 per ton (up 25.9% from 2020)
- Australia: $277 (up 6.9%)
- United States: $303 (up 25.7%)
- Canada: $308 (up 27.8%)
- Ukraine: $244 (up 22.6%)
- France: $283 (up 23.6%)
- Argentina: $258 (up 29.6%)
- Germany: $281 (up 24.3%)
- Romania: $262 (up 20.2%)
- India: $283 (up 8%)
Two among the top 10 wheat suppliers by weight charged a comparatively higher average unit price exceeding, or equal to, the average unit price of $303 per ton specific to the top 50 wheat exporters by value.
That data finding suggests that economies of scale for the world’s 10 biggest exporters of wheat may apply–at least to some degree. That is because for 8 of the top 10 supplier countries, their average unit price is lower than the global benchmark price for the 50 leading wheat exporter countries.
Major Wheat Importing Countries by Quantity
Turning our attention to countries that buy wheat on international markets, the top 10 wheat importers by weight bought almost four-fifths (79.1%) of globally imported wheat during 2021.
- Burkina Faso: 199 million tons (41.5% of globally imported wheat)
- Trinidad/Tobago: 116.6 million tons (24.3%)
- Indonesia: 11.5 million tons (2.4%)
- China: 9.7 million tons (2%)
- Turkey: 8.9 million tons (1.9%)
- Italy: 7.3 million tons (1.5%)
- Bangladesh: 7.2 million tons (1.5%)
- Iran: 7.1 million tons (1.5%)
- Brazil: 6.2 million tons (1.3%)
- Philippines: 6 million tons (1.3%)
Among the above leading wheat importers, seven increased their purchases of wheat on international markets from 2020 to 2021. The greatest year-over-year percentage gains were 115.4% for Iran, 32.8% for Burkina Faso, 19.1% for mainland China, 18.7% for Bangladesh, and 11.5% for Indonesia.
See also Wheat Exports by Country (dollar value), Wheat Imports by Country (dollar value), Average Frozen Beef Prices Compared by Top Exporters, Average Rice Prices Compared for Major Rice Export Countries and Average Banana Prices Compared for Major Bananas Export Countries
Research Sources:
Alibaba, Supplier showroom for wheat. Accessed on September 24, 2022
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on September 24, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 24, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 24, 2022
Wikipedia, Wheat. Accessed on September 24, 2022
