Global grain production in 2018 seen decreasing

FAO’s latest forecast for 2018 world grain production stands at 2 595 million tons, down marginally from November and 2.4% (62.5 million tons) below last year’s record high.

Global wheat production is forecast at 725.1 million tons, 2.8 million tons lower than the November figure, reflecting reduced estimates for this year’s harvests in Turkey and the Russian Federation.

The forecast for world production of coarse grains has also been lowered, by 3.1 million tons, to 1 357 million tons, following some downward adjustments to barley and sorghum outputs. However, the forecast of global corn production remains unchanged, with an upward adjustment in Ukraine, driven by better-than-expected yields, largely offsetting lower prospects in the United States.

By the estimates of Institute of Agrarian Economics, updated on the basis of statistical data as of November 1, 2018, and expert assessment by the end of the year, in 2018 the production of grain and leguminous crops in Ukraine will exceed last year's 61.9 million tons by 13.4% and reach 70.2 million tons.