UK wheat imports will fall more than 40% this season due to the boost to domestic supplies from the strongest year-on-year rise in production in history – requiring bumper exports to avoid a huge stocks build-up.
UK wheat imports – swollen over 2012-13 by a poor quality harvest, and in 2013-14 by an unusually small one – will drop back to 1.30m tonnes this season, “as good supply and quality of the UK crop is expected to fulfil the majority of domestic demand”, the HGCA crop bureau said.
While the season began with bumper imports, “these are expected to decline following the confirmation of grain quantity and quality”.