Iran was the largest importer in the reporting week, receiving 71,730 tonnes, followed by Sudan with 67,520 tonnes and Turkey with 30,600 tonnes.
Additionally, Kazakh durum wheat exports totaled 15,038 tonnes, all of which were shipped to Italy.
Apart from 169,850 tonnes exported during the reporting period, an additional 403,850 tonnes are currently under loading.
The largest confirmed shipment was to Turkey with 92,000 tonnes, followed by Egypt (70,000 tonnes), Sudan (69,500 tonnes) and Bangladesh (50,000 tonnes). Approximately 72,350 tonnes still had no designated destination, pending allocation.
Milling wheat exports and shipments in transit
Another 464,948 tonnes of milling wheat were currently en route and expected to reach their destination soon.
Egypt was the largest confirmed importer of milling wheat currently arriving, receiving 86,000 tonnes, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 67,160 tonnes, while approximately 142,500 tonnes still had no designated destination, pending allocation. Additionally, 20,000 tonnes of Kazakh durum wheat were en route to Italy.
Year-to-date wheat export trends
From May 1-21, Russian wheat exports reached 1.07 million tonnes, a 29% decrease compared with 1.51 million tonnes exported in April 1-21. This figure also represents a 68% drop compared with 3.33 million tonnes exported during the same period in May 2024.
Finally, the total volume of wheat exports in the 2024/25 crop year so far – from the beginning of the season on July 1, 2024, to May 21 – was 38.79 million tonnes, a decrease of 7.59 million tonnes (16%) compared with 46.38 million tonnes during the same period in the 2023/24 season.
Key wheat export destinations in 2024/25
Egypt remained the top importer of Russian wheat in 2024/25, increasing its imports by 7.8% to 8.05 million tonnes compared with 7.47 million tonnes during the same period in the previous season.
Turkey experienced a significant decline of 50.1%, with imports falling to 3.21 million tonnes from 6.44 million tonnes in the previous season.
Bangladesh reduced its imports by 28.6%, reaching 2.60 million tonnes compared with 3.64 million tonnes last season.
Algeria recorded a 12.8% decline in imports, dropping to 1.69 million tonnes.
Libya increased its imports by 12.7% to 1.52 million tonnes, while Saudi Arabia experienced a 18.2% decline to 1.49 million tonnes compared with 1.82 million tonnes last season.
Nigeria had significant growth, surging by 223.2% to 1.48 million tonnes compared with 459,000 tonnes previously.
Kenya experienced a 20.2% decrease, importing 1.47 million tonnes compared with 1.84 million tonnes last season.
Israel expanded its imports by 18.2%, reaching 1.36 million tonnes.
Iran decreased imports by 13.3% to 1.22 million tonnes compared with 1.41 million tonnes last year.
Yemen reduced its imports by 29.1%, falling to 1.19 million tonnes from 1.68 million tonnes last season.
Morocco showed a significant increase of 139.5%, importing 1.11 million tonnes compared with 462,000 tonnes in the previous season.
Sudan saw a slight decrease of 0.7%, importing 849,000 tonnes compared with 855,000 tonnes last year.
Tunisia recorded substantial growth of 46.6%, importing 835,000 tonnes, while Tanzania experienced a 3.2% decline, with 828,000 tonnes compared with 856,000 tonnes last season.
The total wheat exports to other destinations dropped by 16.4%, from 46.38 million tonnes in 2023/24 to 38.79 million tonnes in 2024/25.
Performance of other grains
Barley shipments on May 1-21 totaled 0 tonnes, down by 100% from 13,000 tonnes in April and a 100% decrease from 462,000 tonnes exported in May 2024.
Barley exports totaled 4.29 million tonnes between July 1, 2024, and May 21, a decline of 3.23 million tonnes (43%) compared with 7.51 million tonnes during the same period in the 2023/24 season.
Corn shipments during May 1-21 totaled 30,000 tonnes, a 53% decrease from 63,000 tonnes in April and a sharp 93% decline from 406,000 tonnes exported during the same period in May 2024.
Corn exports since the beginning of the 2024/25 marketing year totaled 2.88 million tonnes, down by 3.66 million tonnes (56%) compared with 6.54 million tonnes during the same timeframe in 2023/24.
Total Russian grain exports in May 1-21 totaled 1.10 million tonnes, a 32% decrease compared with 1.62 million tonnes in April and a 74% drop from 4.25 million tonnes exported in May 2024.
The share of grain shipments via deep-sea ports in May was 78.4%, up from 76.4% in April and slightly higher than 75.4% in May 2024. Deep-sea port shipments reached 863,000 tonnes, down by 30% from 1.24 million tonnes in April and significantly lower than 3.20 million tonnes recorded in May 2024.
Finally, the total grain exports since the beginning of the 2024/25 marketing year reached 46.47 million tonnes, down by 14.73 million tonnes (24%) from 61.20 million tonnes in 2023/24.
