November 28, 2012

UK wheat imports likely increase twofold in 2012-13

Following a poor harvest, Britain's wheat imports are expected to double in 2012-13 due to increase demand in bioethanol and food sectors.

This was according to the farm ministry on Tuesday (Nov 27), issuing the government's first supply/demand balance for the current season. The ministry put imports for the 2011-12 season (July-June) at 908,000 tonnes.

Traders and analysts have said Britain will be a net importer of wheat for the first time in a decade this year after a disease-ravaged harvest, much of which fails to meet the quality required for bread. Germany, France, the US and Canada are Britain's traditional suppliers but this year the net has been cast wider to include Lithuania, Denmark, Sweden and Poland, traders have said.

UK wheat imports in the first three months of the 2012-13 season totalled 566,713 tonnes, sharply up from 218,420 tonnes in the same period last season. Corn imports were seen climbing by 9% to 1.08 million tonnes in 2012-13, reflecting a 40% jump in human and industrial usage to 390,000 tonnes.