China’s 2015/16 Wheat Imports May Double as Rain Hurts Local Crop

After rain damage to local crops that could result in the loss in production of up to 3 million tons of wheat, China’s wheat imports for the 2015/16 marketing year could be double last year’s imports, according to analysts.

China, the top wheat producing country in the world, completed its wheat harvest this month. Total output is expected to be 2% higher than last year, reaching 127.7 million tons, but the quality of the harvest is lower than last year, making some of the wheat unfit for human consumption. Imports are expected to increase to between 2 million and 2.5 million tons from 1.49 million tons last season, according to estimates from China National Grain and Oils Information Center (CNGOIC) and Shanghai JC Intelligence Co Ltd (JCI).

Much of the wheat harvested is also not suitable for the production of the western-style breads and cakes that are growing in popularity in the country, and in May Chinese imports reached their highest point in a year.