FAO Cereal Supply and Demand Brief
The Cereal Supply and Demand Brief provides an up-to-date perspective of the world cereal market. The monthly brief is supplemented by a detailed assessment of cereal production as well as supply and demand conditions by country/region in the quarterly Crop Prospects and Food Situation. More in-depth analyses of world markets for cereals, as well as other major food commodities, are published biannually in Food Outlook.
Monthly release dates for 2013: 07 February, 07 March, 11 April, 09 May, 13 June, 11 July, 05 September, 03 October, 07 November, 05 December.
Cereal markets are set to be more balanced in 2013/14
Release date: 13/06/2013
Latest indications point to a more comfortable world cereal supply-and-demand balance in the new 2013/14 marketing season. After a relatively tight situation in 2012/13, characterized by reduced grain supplies and high prices, good production prospects and a likely replenishment in world stocks could pave the way for calmer markets and some easing of prices in the new season.
World cereal production in 2013, including rice on a milled basis, is forecast to reach a record 2 460 million tonnes. This is up 6.5 percent from the previous year's reduced level, mainly due to higher wheat output and a sharp expected rebound of maize production in the United States. Rice production is also set to increase in 2013, although concerns over diminishing prices may dampen growth.
Global cereal utilization is forecast to reach 2 402 million tonnes in 2013/14, 3 percent above 2012/13. Much of the growth would stem from higher use of maize for feed and industrial purposes in the United States. Total feed use of coarse grains is forecast to be greater in developing than developed countries for the second consecutive season. The increase in utilization of wheat and rice would be broadly in line with the population growth, a factor that would keep average per capita consumption of cereals stable at around 153 kg per year.
Based on current supply and demand prospects, by the end of seasons in 2014, world cereal inventories could register an 11 percent recovery to 569 million tonnes, the highest level in twelve years. The build-up of stocks is forecast to affect all the major cereals, with coarse grains increasing the most. The projected recovery in world inventories would lead to higher 2014 stock-to-use ratios, especially for maize.
World trade in cereals is forecast to reach 306 million tonnes in 2013/14, similar to 2012/13. A reduction in wheat trade is expected to offset a rebound in maize while rice trade in 2014 is forecast to change little.
For more detailed information and analysis, please see the June 2013 issue of Food Outlook. http://www.fao.org/giews/english/fo/index.htm
Summary Tables
|
|
|
|
1/ Production data refer to the calendar year of the first year shown. Rice production is expressed in milled terms.
2/ Production plus opening stocks.
3/ Trade data refer to exports based on a July/June marketing season for wheat and coarse grains and on a January/December marketing season for rice (second year shown).
4/ May not equal the difference between supply and utilization due to differences in individual country marketing years.
5/ Major wheat exporters are Argentina, Australia, Canada, the EU, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major coarse grain exporters are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Russian Federation, Ukraine and the United States; major rice exporters are India, Pakistan, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam. Disappearance is defined as domestic utilization plus exports for any given season.