That dollar amount reflects a 4.9% increase since 2017 when flour exports were worth $6.4 billion.
From 2020 to 2021, the value of globally exported flours flatlined via a 0.1% upturn.
The 5 biggest exporters of flours are Turkey, Germany, United States, India and Italy. Collectively, that cohort of suppliers generated 38.9% of flours sold on international markets during 2021.
A granular food powder made via grinding raw grains or roots, flour is a key ingredient in dietary staples such as bread, pastries and stews.
Different types of flours in 2021: Over two-thirds (69.7%) of globally exported flours was made from wheat or meslin flour, while 16% was derived from other cereals (excluding wheat and meslin). Another 12.5% of the overall total is attributable to peas, beans, lentils and other dried leguminous vegetables. Finally, 1.8% was potato-based flour.
From a continent perspective, $2.7 billion or 41.1% worth of all flour exports worldwide during 2021 originated in Asia.
In second place were suppliers in Europe (34.3%) trailed by North America (10%), Latin America (8.1%) plus the Caribbean and Africa (5.8%). The smallest continent for generating international flour sales was Oceania via a tiny 0.7% share.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 1101 for wheat or meslin flour, 1102 for other cereal flours, 1106 for flour made from peas, beans, lentils and similar dried leguminous vegetables. The 6-digit HTS prefix is 110510 for potato-derived flour.
Wheat or Meslin Flour Exports by Country:
Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of flour made from wheat or meslin and that was shipped during 2021.
- Turkey: US$1.1 billion (23.8% of exported wheat flour)
- Germany: $386.1 million (8.3%)
- Uzbekistan: $281 million (6%)
- Egypt: $195.6 million (4.2%)
- Italy: $191.8 million (4.1%)
- Argentina: $190.3 million (4.1%)
- India: $188.1 million (4%)
- United States: $147.1 million (3.2%)
- Belgium: $139.1 million (3%)
- Kazakhstan: $134.2 million (2.9%)
- Canada: $122.5 million (2.6%)
- France: $98.6 million (2.1%)
- Japan: $91.5 million (2%)
- Russia: $85.9 million (1.8%)
- United Kingdom: $77.8 million (1.7%)
- Netherlands: $77.5 million (1.7%)
- Hungary: $67.9 million (1.5%)
- Vietnam: $59.9 million (1.3%)
- Poland: $46.1 million (1%)
- Singapore: $46.1 million (1%)
- Spain: $44.6 million (1%)
- Slovakia: $41.1 million (0.9%)
- Serbia: $40.2 million (0.9%)
- Kuwait: $39.6 million (0.9%)
- Ukraine: $35.9 million (0.8%)
By value, the above countries produced about four-fifths (80.4%) of wheat or meslin-based flour in 2021.
Leading international sales gains for this commodity from 2020 to 2021 were suppliers in: Egypt (up 39.2%), India (up 35.4%), Singapore (up 34%), Slovakia (up 32.8%), Uzbekistan (up 28.5%) and Italy (up 25.2%).
Exporters in Kazakhstan endured the greatest decline (-72.6%) year over year, trailed by Ukraine (down -39.7%), United Kingdom (down -31%), Kuwait (down -23.2%) then Vietnam (down -14.6%).
Cereals Flour Exports by Country (Not Wheat or Meslin):
Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of flour made from cereals other than wheat or meslin and that was shipped during 2021.
- Thailand: US$167.6 million (15.7% of exported non-wheat cereals flours)
- Mexico: $126.6 million (11.9%)
- United States: $95.1 million (8.9%)
- Germany: $75.1 million (7%)
- Italy: $72.9 million (6.8%)
- Belgium: $45.2 million (4.2%)
- Brazil: $39.6 million (3.7%)
- Colombia: $36.7 million (3.4%)
- El Salvador: $34.6 million (3.2%)
- France: $34 million (3.2%)
- Netherlands: $30.9 million (2.9%)
- India: $25.9 million (2.4%)
- Canada: $22.4 million (2.1%)
- South Africa: $21.2 million (2%)
- Poland: $15.7 million (1.5%)
- Belarus: $14.5 million (1.4%)
- Spain: $14 million (1.3%)
- Portugal: $13.8 million (1.3%)
- Hong Kong: $10.9 million (1%)
- United Kingdom: $10.8 million (1%)
- Honduras: $10.1 million (0.9%)
- Dominican Republic: $9.6 million (0.9%)
- Namibia: $8.3 million (0.8%)
- Vietnam: $8.3 million (0.8%)
- Australia: $7.1 million (0.7%)
By value the above countries produced 85% of cereals-based flour in 2021 (excluding those made from wheat or meslin).
Leading the gainers from 2020 to 2021 were: Namibia (up 738.1%), Belarus (up 116.7%), Poland (up 61.2%), Hong Kong (up 34.4%), South Africa (up 24.2%) then Belgium (up 23.4%).
Five major suppliers experienced double-digit declines year over year, namely: Vietnam (down -27.3%), Brazil (down -24.8%), United Kingdom (down -24.2%), Honduras (down -12.6%) and Mexico (down -10.5%).
Potato Flour Exports by Country:
Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of potato-based flour that was shipped during 2021.
- Netherlands: US$73.6 million (61.5% of exported potato-based flours)
- United States: $12 million (10.1%)
- Poland: $8 million (6.7%)
- Belgium: $4.4 million (3.7%)
- France: $2.9 million (2.4%)
- North Korea: $2.5 million (2.1%)
- Canada: $2.3 million (1.9%)
- Germany: $1.9 million (1.6%)
- United Kingdom: $1.5 million (1.3%)
- Thailand: $1.2 million (1%)
- Vietnam: $1.1 million (0.9%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1 million (0.9%)
- Egypt: $753,000 (0.6%)
- Italy: $609,000 (0.5%)
- Australia: $604,000 (0.5%)
- South Africa: $566,000 (0.5%)
- Singapore: $429,000 (0.4%)
- India: $419,000 (0.3%)
- Indonesia: $413,000 (0.3%)
- Czech Republic: $336,000 (0.3%)
- Malaysia: $326,000 (0.3%)
- Greece: $221,000 (0.2%)
- Hong Kong: $205,000 (0.2%)
- Ireland: $183,000 (0.2%)
- Slovenia: $157,000 (0.1%)
By value, the above countries produced 97.4% of potato-based flours in 2021.
Leading the gainers from 2020 to 2021 were: Vietnam (up 7,800%), Egypt (up 258.6%), France (up 87.5%), Belgium (up 58.9%) then Indonesia (up 50.2%).
Ireland endured the greatest decline (-91.2%) year over year. Other severe drops were experienced by suppliers in Italy (down -43.1%), United Kingdom (down -45.3%), India (down -67%) then Hong Kong (down -39.2%).
Dried Legumes Flour Exports by Country:
Below are the 25 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of flour made from peas, beans and lentils or other dried legumes and that was shipped during 2021.
- Spain: US$101.5 million (12.1% of exported dried legumes flours)
- India: $96.8 million (11.6%)
- United States: $87.5 million (10.5%)
- Thailand: $41.9 million (5%)
- Turkey: $39.1 million (4.7%)
- Germany: $32.9 million (3.9%)
- Peru: $31.4 million (3.7%)
- Canada: $31 million (3.7%)
- Italy: $29.8 million (3.6%)
- Netherlands: $26.8 million (3.2%)
- Indonesia: $258 million (3%)
- Vietnam: $23.28 million (2.8%)
- France: $23.1 million (2.8%)
- China: $22.3 million (2.7%)
- Brazil: $18.3 million (2.2%)
- Malaysia: $17.5 million (2.1%)
- Belgium: $16.9 million (2%)
- Singapore: $14.8 million (1.8%)
- Sri Lanka: $12 million (1.4%)
- United Kingdom: $11 million (1.3%)
- Chile: $10.4 million (1.2%)
- Denmark: $10.3 million (1.2%)
- Taiwan: $9.6 million (1.2%)
- Ecuador: $7.8 million (0.9%)
- Laos: $7.6 million (0.9%)
By value, the above countries exported 84% of dried legumes-based flours in 2021.
Leading the gainers from 2020 to 2021 were: Belgium (up 113.2%), Sri Lanka (up 91.1%), Denmark (up 72.3%), Canada (up 53.8%) then the Netherlands (up 50.2%)
The value of exports for dried legumes-based flour fell for 3 top competitors namely mainland China (down -33% compared to 2020), Vietnam (down -24.1%) and Brazil (down -15.5%).
Average Unit Prices by Type of Flour
Wheat or meslin flour is the least expensive type of exported flour, with an average price of $425 per ton.
The second-lowest average price in 2021 was charged for flour made from cereals other than wheat or meslin.
At $1,142 per ton, the most expensive type of exported flour was made from dried leguminous vegetables including peas, beans and lentils.
The smallest category of exported flour in terms of total international sales, potato-based flour, garnered an average unit price of $1,130 per ton during 2021.
See also Wheat Exports by Country, Top Pasta Exporters by Country and Barley Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on May 30, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on May 30, 2022
Wikipedia, Flour. Accessed on May 30, 2022
