For the 2024-25 crop year, the UK has seen wheat import volumes reach unprecedented levels. Between July and November 2024, imports totaled 1.45 million tonnes, marking the highest figure since records began almost three decades ago. November alone accounted for 295,000 tonnes, a 71% increase compared to the same period in 2023, underscoring the urgent need to fill domestic supply gaps.
This surge follows the UK’s exceptionally poor wheat harvest in 2024, which amounted to just 11.1 million tonnes—20% lower than the previous year, according to Defra. Challenges such as adverse weather conditions and quality concerns have exacerbated the situation, pushing merchants and millers to source wheat from abroad.
Import Trends and Sources
Gabriel Odiase, cereals and oilseeds analyst at AHDB, attributes the robust import pace to lower domestic production, quality issues, and a stronger British pound against the euro. Milling-quality wheat, primarily sourced from Germany and Canada, constitutes a significant portion of these imports.
Typically, about 15% of the wheat used by UK flour millers is imported. However, early data suggests that this figure could rise substantially in the 2024-25 season. The AHDB projects total wheat imports to reach 2.75 million tonnes for the crop year, although volumes may taper off toward the season’s end.
Domestic Concerns: Standards and Export Decline
The influx of imported wheat raises questions about quality standards. Red Tractor, a prominent UK farm assurance scheme, faced criticism last year over discrepancies between domestic and imported grain standards. While the organization announced plans to introduce an entry-level grain standard for feed wheat, concrete developments remain pending.
Meanwhile, UK grain exports have significantly declined. Between July and November 2024, wheat exports fell 62% year-on-year to just 51,600 tonnes. Barley exports also dropped sharply, totaling 189,300 tonnes compared to the previous year’s 330,900 tonnes and a five-year average of 1.1 million tonnes. Oats experienced a similar trend, with only 5,500 tonnes exported, far below the 57,800 tonnes from the previous season.
The UK’s reliance on wheat imports underscores the critical impact of domestic harvest challenges on the agricultural sector. While imports have helped maintain supply chains, they also highlight the need for robust policies to support local production and ensure fair standards for both domestic and imported wheat. As the industry adapts to these shifts, a balance between global trade and local farming resilience will be essential.
Error
