ISRAEL (1 June)
Harvesting of the 2005 wheat crop is almost concluded and the output is forecast at about 190 000 tonnes. Domestic production of wheat in normal years covers less than one-fifth of the country’s total requirement, the rest being commercially imported. In 2004 wheat production – estimated at 128 000 tonnes – was below average due to poor precipitation. Imports of cereals in 2004/05 (July/June) are forecast at about 3.1 million tonnes.