Major exporting countries of wheat, flour and products 2014/15-2023/24

In the 2023/24 marketing year, Russia was the leading exporter of wheat, flour, and wheat products worldwide. Russia exported about 51 million metric tons that year. The European Union came in second, with 36.5 million metric tons of exports.

Wheat imports

Wheat does not grow as well in hotter climates, so it is no surprise that countries like Egypt and Indonesia are among the top importers of wheat, flour, and other wheat products. In 2022/23, both countries imported 11 million metric tons of wheat. Although the EU is among the principal exporting countries, they are also the fifth leading importer, with about nine million metric tons imported. Globally, over 211 million metric tons of wheat were imported that year.

Durum wheat

Durum is a class of wheat with a higher protein and gluten content than other common wheat varieties. It is often called semolina flour, pasta flour, or macaroni flour. It is the most popular choice of flour for making many varieties of pasta, which is not surprising given its nomenclature. In Italy, about 1.2 million hectares of agricultural area are used for the production of durum wheat and the production of durum wheat in Italy came to about 3.8 million tons in 2022.