Russian durum wheat production doubles

According to the Russian Grain Union, the area dedicated to durum wheat cultivation is expected to nearly double this year. The Ministry of Agriculture reported that one million hectares will be sown with this high-quality and expensive wheat in the upcoming season.
It appears that the relevant department is relying on an increase in exports. If the area is doubled, the durum wheat harvest could exceed 2 million tons. Previously, Sergei Nemirovsky, the executive director of NAPMI (National Association of Pasta Manufacturers), estimated the need for durum wheat, including potential exports, at 1.7 million tons per year ). The pasta industry, the main consumer of durum wheat, requires 800 thousand tons.

Last year, the country harvested about 1.2 million tons of durum wheat (out of a total wheat harvest of 104 million tons), which is significantly more than the previous year's harvest of 735 thousand tons. Following the rise in wheat prices on the world market, Russian exports of durum wheat also increased sharply, primarily to Turkey and Italy. The Russian Grain Union reports that durum wheat shipments from the Russian Federation have increased almost 13-fold from the beginning of the season until November 2023, reaching 657 thousand tons annually. Consequently, the government imposed a ban on the export of such wheat in December last year. This was due to the rising prices of raw materials, which have doubled since the beginning of the season, causing significant losses for Russian pasta producers. The ban on exporting durum wheat is in effect until the end of May this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture predicts that the harvest of durum wheat in most producing countries will reach a 20-year low in the upcoming season. As a result, demand for durum wheat is expected to increase, allowing Russian suppliers to profit from it. Durum wheat has a much higher profit margin than soft wheat, approximately 70-100% versus 20-30%.