The overall value of imported wheat for all buying countries rose by an average 13.7% since 2016 when the world’s tally for wheat purchases equaled $41.7 billion.
From 2019 to 2020, the global bill paid for imported wheat accelerated by 7.5%.
The 5 biggest buyers of wheat (Egypt, Indonesia, Turkey, China, Nigeria) purchased a quarter (25.2%) of overall wheat imports in 2020.
Among continents, Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of overall wheat imported during 2020 with purchases valued at $20.3 billion or 42.9% of the global total. In second place were African importers at 27.2% while 17.7% of worldwide wheat imports was delivered to Europe.
Smaller percentages arrived in Latin America (8.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (3%) and Oceania (0.8%) led by New Zealand and Australia.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 1001 for wheat and meslin.
Wheat Imports by Country
Top 15
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2020.
- Egypt: US$2.7 billion (5.7% of total imported wheat)
- Indonesia: $2.6 billion (5.5%)
- Turkey: $2.33 billion (4.9%)
- China: $2.26 billion (4.8%)
- Nigeria: $2.06 billion (4.3%)
- Italy: $2.04 billion (4.3%)
- Algeria: $1.64 billion (3.5%)
- Philippines: $1.57 billion (3.3%)
- Japan: $1.53 billion (3.2%)
- Morocco: $1.42 billion (3.0%)
- Brazil: $1.34 billion (2.8%)
- Bangladesh: $1.28 billion (2.7%)
- South Korea: $970.5 million (2.0%)
- Netherlands: $962.1 million (2.0%)
- Spain: $950.7 million (2.0%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for wheat since 2019 were: China (up 150.8%), Nigeria (up 62.3%), Morocco (up 48.2%) and Italy (up 12.1%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported wheat purchases were led by: Netherlands (down -15.8%), Spain (down -12.8%), Egypt (down -10.9%) and Brazil (down -9.9%).
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 54.2% of all wheat imported in 2020.
Egypt
Wheat Imports into Egypt
Below are the top suppliers from which Egypt imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Russia: US$1.6 billion (up 12.5% from 2019)
- Ukraine: $690.4 million (down -10.7%)
- France: $176.8 million (up 6.2%)
- Romania: $87.7 million (down -73%)
- Australia: $60.7 million (up 471.2%)
- United States: $22.4 million (down -90.2%)
- Bulgaria: $13.9 million (up 262.2%)
- Lithuania: $7 million (no 2019 data)
- Hungary: $5.7 million (no 2019 data)
- Canada: $2.5 million (down -85.5%)
- United Kingdom: $1,000 (no 2019 data)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of all Egyptian wheat imports in 2020.
Overall, the value of Egyptian wheat imports decreased by an average -10.9% from all supplying countries since 2019 when wheat purchases were valued at $3.2 billion.
Indonesia
Wheat Imports into Indonesia
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Indonesia imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Ukraine: US$707.6 million (up 1.3% from 2019)
- Canada: $639.3 million (down -8.9%)
- Argentina: $627.7 million (up 23.1%)
- United States: $341.8 million (down -0.2%)
- Australia: $239.8 million (down -7.7%)
- Bulgaria: $29.1 million (down -24.1%)
- Russia: $15.6 million (down -87.8%)
- Moldova: $15.1 million (down -53.0%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100.0% of wheat imported by Indonesia in 2020.
Overall, the value of Indonesia’s imported wheat declined by an average -6.5% from all supplying countries since 2019 when wheat purchased cost $2.8 billion.
Turkey
Wheat Imports into Turkey
Below are the 15 suppliers from which Turkey imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Russia: US$1.5 billion (up 0.02% from 2019)
- Ukraine: $246.4 million (up 5%)
- Canada: $151.1 million (down -28.2%)
- Mexico: $112.5 million (down -3.9%)
- Lithuania: $110.4 million (up 67.8%)
- Bulgaria: $34.1 million (up 65.3%)
- Spain: $33.8 million (up 510.6%)
- Latvia: $27.4 million (down -40.3%)
- Syrian Arab Republic: $27.3 million (down 0%)
- Poland: $26.9 million (up 369.9%)
- Estonia: $17.6 million (up 23%)
- Czech Republic: $12.7 million (no 2019 data)
- Germany: $7.2 million (no 2019 data)
- Kazakhstan: $6.6 million (down -85.4%)
- Bosnia/Herzegovina: $4.7 million (up 111.5%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 99.3% of wheat imported by Turkey in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of wheat to Turkey since 2019 were: Spain (up 510.6%), Poland (up 369.9%), Bosnia/Herzegovina (up 111.5%) and Lithuania (up 67.8%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their wheat supplied to Turkish importers included: Kazakhstan (down -85.4%), Latvia (down -40.3%), Canada (down -28.2%) and Mexico (down -3.9%).
Overall, the value of Turkey’s imported wheat increased by an average 1.4% from all supplying countries since 2019 when wheat purchased cost $2.3 billion.
China
Wheat Imports into China
Below are the top suppliers from which mainland China imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Canada: US$654.8 million (up 32.4% from 2019)
- France: $628.8 million (up 382.6%)
- United States: $464.4 million (up 589.2%)
- Australia: $359.6 million (up 557.6%)
- Lithuania: $92.3 million (up 68.4%)
- Kazakhstan: $48.1 million (down -46.6%)
- Russia: $12.3 million (up 35.9%)
- Hungary: $66,000 (no 2019 data)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of wheat imported by mainland China in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of wheat to China since 2019 were: United States (up 589.2%), Australia (up 557.6%), France (up 382.6%) and Lithuania (up 68.4%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported wheat accelerated by an average 150.8% from all supplying countries since 2019 when wheat purchased cost $901 million.
Searchable List of Wheat Importing Countries in 2020
Collectively, the 100 key importers showcased in the database below represent 98.1% of worldwide imports of wheat during 2020
| Rank | Importer | Wheat Imports (US$) | 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Egypt | $2,693,851,000 | -10.9% |
| 2. | Indonesia | $2,616,037,000 | -6.5% |
| 3. | Turkey | $2,334,510,000 | +1.4% |
| 4. | China | $2,260,233,000 | +150.8% |
| 5. | Nigeria | $2,056,507,000 | +62.3% |
| 6. | Italy | $2,043,025,000 | +12.1% |
| 7. | Algeria | $1,640,608,000 | +11% |
| 8. | Philippines | $1,573,208,000 | -8.3% |
| 9. | Japan | $1,525,035,000 | +3.5% |
| 10. | Morocco | $1,423,722,000 | +48.2% |
| 11. | Brazil | $1,343,060,000 | -9.9% |
| 12. | Bangladesh | $1,275,535,000 | -8.9% |
| 13. | South Korea | $970,454,000 | -2% |
| 14. | Netherlands | $962,076,000 | -15.8% |
| 15. | Spain | $950,734,000 | -12.8% |
| 16. | Germany | $905,827,000 | +22.6% |
| 17. | Mexico | $901,745,000 | -20.1% |
| 18. | Belgium | $819,579,000 | 0% |
| 19. | Vietnam | $809,252,000 | +12.4% |
| 20. | Thailand | $784,864,000 | -1.6% |
| 21. | Yemen | $673,651,000 | -1.8% |
| 22. | Pakistan | $660,078,000 | 0% |
| 23. | Peru | $564,050,000 | +10% |
| 24. | Uzbekistan | $556,494,000 | +52.8% |
| 25. | Sudan | $527,628,000 | +10.5% |
| 26. | United Kingdom | $515,560,000 | +61.7% |
| 27. | South Africa | $492,844,000 | +24.9% |
| 28. | Colombia | $477,629,000 | +9.6% |
| 29. | United States | $467,784,000 | +8.2% |
| 30. | Tunisia | $466,369,000 | +1.5% |
| 31. | Kenya | $458,151,000 | -8.7% |
| 32. | Ethiopia | $431,176,000 | -6.2% |
| 33. | Taiwan | $402,717,000 | +9.7% |
| 34. | Malaysia | $377,737,000 | -1.6% |
| 35. | Sri Lanka | $366,043,000 | +17.7% |
| 36. | Israel | $355,375,000 | -2.5% |
| 37. | Ecuador | $325,229,000 | +3.1% |
| 38. | United Arab Emirates | $297,612,000 | -12.5% |
| 39. | Azerbaijan | $296,905,000 | -12.8% |
| 40. | Portugal | $287,451,000 | -3.1% |
| 41. | Chile | $282,624,000 | -2.1% |
| 42. | Iran | $260,227,000 | +830.7% |
| 43. | Romania | $254,430,000 | +43.6% |
| 44. | Libya | $244,674,000 | -7.1% |
| 45. | Tajikistan | $243,237,000 | +9.2% |
| 46. | Austria | $238,949,000 | +25% |
| 47. | Tanzania | $218,714,000 | +18.6% |
| 48. | Jordan | $215,423,000 | +6.1% |
| 49. | Mozambique | $213,552,000 | +7.6% |
| 50. | Greece | $210,959,000 | -11.3% |
| 51. | Saudi Arabia | $194,067,000 | +57.2% |
| 52. | Senegal | $192,066,000 | +4% |
| 53. | Ghana | $185,872,000 | +33% |
| 54. | Cameroon | $182,936,000 | +9.8% |
| 55. | Mauritania | $182,894,000 | +23.7% |
| 56. | Poland | $173,412,000 | +50.2% |
| 57. | Guatemala | $170,154,000 | +3.4% |
| 58. | Ivory Coast | $168,630,000 | -8% |
| 59. | Latvia | $159,394,000 | +66.5% |
| 60. | Uganda | $151,706,000 | -11.7% |
| 61. | Lebanon | $148,488,000 | +20.5% |
| 62. | Oman | $141,248,000 | -10.5% |
| 63. | Cuba | $140,250,000 | -22.5% |
| 64. | Afghanistan | $138,420,000 | +49.8% |
| 65. | Myanmar | $136,480,000 | +4.7% |
| 66. | Angola | $136,375,000 | -9.2% |
| 67. | Dominican Republic | $133,149,000 | -8.8% |
| 68. | Kuwait | $126,083,000 | -16.4% |
| 69. | New Zealand | $122,892,000 | -0.9% |
| 70. | Australia | $114,787,000 | -2% |
| 71. | Georgia | $111,864,000 | +6.5% |
| 72. | Switzerland | $110,657,000 | -4.9% |
| 73. | Venezuela | $102,790,000 | -9.8% |
| 74. | Zimbabwe | $102,719,000 | +99% |
| 75. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $96,640,000 | -26.9% |
| 76. | Kazakhstan | $86,937,000 | +67% |
| 77. | Mali | $81,690,000 | -15.7% |
| 78. | Guinea | $80,680,000 | -1.9% |
| 79. | France | $77,146,000 | -15% |
| 80. | Nepal | $76,671,000 | +39.2% |
| 81. | Armenia | $72,254,000 | +42.1% |
| 82. | Costa Rica | $72,223,000 | +2.4% |
| 83. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $71,505,000 | +3.2% |
| 84. | Norway | $71,389,000 | -30.6% |
| 85. | El Salvador | $71,341,000 | -16.3% |
| 86. | Singapore | $69,670,000 | +22.1% |
| 87. | Ireland | $67,267,000 | +6.9% |
| 88. | Honduras | $66,276,000 | -2.9% |
| 89. | Russia | $64,839,000 | +38.6% |
| 90. | Papua New Guinea | $64,427,000 | +3.5% |
| 91. | Albania | $61,237,000 | +75.8% |
| 92. | Haiti | $58,069,000 | +15.3% |
| 93. | Congo | $54,754,000 | -3.8% |
| 94. | Botswana | $51,930,000 | +64.3% |
| 95. | Fiji | $49,106,000 | -10.3% |
| 96. | Malawi | $45,382,000 | +0% |
| 97. | Jamaica | $44,144,000 | -19.4% |
| 98. | Burkina Faso | $42,187,000 | +5.9% |
| 99. | Denmark | $41,669,000 | -30.2% |
| 100. | Hungary | $41,153,000 | +58.8% |
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns above. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means no 2019 data is available.
Among the 100 major markets for imported wheat the fastest growing demand came from: Iran (up 830.7% from 2019 to 2020), China (up 150.8%), Zimbabwe (up 99%), Albania (up 75.8%), Kazakhstan (up 67%), Latvia (up 66.5%), Botswana (up 64.3%), Nigeria (up 62.3%) and the United Kingdom (up 61.7%).
See also Wheat Exports by Country, China’s Top 10 Imports and Nigeria’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 10, 2021
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 10, 2021
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 10, 2021
