The overall value of imported wheat for all buying countries inflated by an average 45.9% since 2019 when the world’s tally for wheat purchases equaled $44.3 billion.
From 2022 to 2023, worldwide spending on imported wheat fell by -15.5% starting from $76.5 billion in the earlier year.
By value, the 5 biggest buyers of wheat (mainland China, Egypt, Indonesia, Türkiye and Italy) purchased over one quarter (28.6%) of overall wheat imports bought in 2023.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of overall wheat imported during 2023 with purchases valued at $28.4 billion or 44% of the global total. In second place were African importers at 23.6% while another 20.3% worth of worldwide wheat imports was delivered to Europe.
Smaller percentages arrived for buyers in Latin America (7.8%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (3.6%), then Oceania (0.6%) led by New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 1001 for wheat and meslin.
Wheat Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2023.
- mainland China: US$4.3 billion (6.7% of total wheat imports)
- Egypt: $3.77 billion (5.8%)
- Indonesia: $3.76 billion (5.8%)
- Türkiye: $3.5 billion (5.5%)
- Italy: $3.1 billion (4.9%)
- Spain: $2.8 billion (4.4%)
- Nigeria: $2.04 billion (3.2%)
- Philippines: $1.99 billion (3.1%)
- Japan: $1.93 billion (3%)
- Morocco: $1.91 billion (3%)
- Algeria: $1.8 billion (2.8%)
- South Korea: $1.7 billion (2.6%)
- Germany: $1.5 billion (2.3%)
- Mexico: $1.4 billion (2.2%)
- Thailand: $1.3 billion (2.1%)
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for wheat since 2022 were: Thailand (up 95.6%), Spain (up 54.6%), mainland China (up 13.9%) and Italy (up 12.3%).
Those countries that posted declines in their imported wheat purchases were led by: Algeria (down -31.3% from 2022), Morocco (down -25.3%), Japan (down -23.4%) and the Philippines (down -22.8%).
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 57.3% of all wheat imported in 2023.
Global Wheat Imports into China
Below are the top suppliers from which mainland China imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Australia: US$2.5 billion (up 19.3% from 2022)
- Canada: $984.9 million (up 24.6%)
- United States of America: $319.3 million (up 20.4%)
- France: $308.9 million (down -49.2%)
- Kazakhstan: $150.9 million (up 1,133%)
- Russia: $34.7 million (up 1,166%)
- Mexico: $1,000 (2022 data unavailable)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of wheat imported by mainland China in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of wheat to China since 2022 were: Russia (up 1,166%), Kazakhstan (up 1,133%), Canada (up 24.6%) and the United States of America (up 20.4%).
Overall, the value of mainland China’s imported wheat grew by an average 13.9% from all supplying countries since 2022 when wheat purchased cost $3.8 billion.
Global Wheat Imports into Egypt
Below are the top suppliers from which Egypt imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Russia: US$2.5 billion (up 17.4% from 2022)
- Romania: $467.8 million (down -33.7%)
- Ukraine: $448 million (up 22.9%)
- France: $123.6 million (down -78.8%)
- United States of America: $58.3 million (up 48.7%)
- Bulgaria: $57.4 million (down -71.1%)
- Canada: $33.7 million (up 1,076%)
- Australia: $32.2 million (down -37.7%)
- Moldova: $4.3 million (2022 data unavailable)
- Lithuania: $3 million (down -90.3%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of wheat imported by Egypt in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of wheat to Egypt since 2022 were: Canada (up 1,076%), United States of America (up 48.7%), Ukraine (up 22.9%) and Russia (up 17.4%).
Overall, the value of Egypt’s imported wheat slipped by an average -11.6% from all supplying countries since 2022 when wheat purchased cost $4.3 billion.
Global Wheat Imports into Indonesia
Below are the top suppliers from which Indonesia imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Australia: US$1.5 billion (down -12.9% from 2022)
- Canada: $946.5 million (up 49.3%)
- Brazil: $318.7 million (up 39.6%)
- Bulgaria: $284.6 million (up 313.1%)
- Russia: $274.8 million (2022 data unavailable)
- Ukraine: $199 million (up 224.4%)
- United States of America: $125.9 million (down -22.7%)
- Argentina: $74.6 million (down -85.7%)
- Moldova: $20.6 million (up 79.8%)
- Lithuania: $16.7 million (down -27%)
- Denmark: $228,000 (2022 data unavailable)
- Türkiye: $4,000 (2022 data unavailable)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of wheat imported by Indonesia in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of wheat to Indonesia since 2022 were: Bulgaria (up 313.1%), Ukraine (up 224.4%), Moldova (up 79.8%) and Canada (up 49.3%).
Overall, the value of Indonesia’s imported wheat dropped by an average -1.4% from all supplying countries since 2022 when wheat purchased cost $3.8 billion.
Global Wheat Imports into Türkiye
Below are the 15 suppliers from which Türkiye imported the highest dollar value worth of wheat during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Russia: US$2.7 billion (up 11.1% from 2022)
- Ukraine: $730.1 million (up 1.5%)
- Kazakhstan: $53.6 million (up 98.8%)
- Moldova: $32.8 million (up 37.9%)
- Syria: $17.3 million (up 15.2%)
- Canada: $14.5 million (up 605.5%)
- Australia: $13.9 million (2022 data unavailable)
- Bulgaria: $10.4 million (down -68.3%)
- Romania: $2.3 million (down -81.9%)
- Greece: $2.2 million (up 220%)
- Bosnia/Herzegovina: $872,000 (2022 data unavailable)
- Iraq: $326,000 (up 11.3%)
- France: $80,000 (up 122.2%)
- Italy: $79,000 (up 31.7%)
- Austria: $40,000 (up 300%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.999% of wheat imported by Türkiye in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of wheat to Türkiye since 2022 were: Canada (up 605.5%), Austria (up 300%), Greece (up 220%) and France (up 122.2%).
Two top countries experienced declines in the value of their wheat supplied to Turkish importers namely Romania (down -81.9% from 2022) and Bulgaria (down -68.3%).
Overall, the value of Türkiye’s imported wheat increased by an average 5.5% from all supplying countries since 2022 when wheat purchased cost $3.4 billion.
Searchable List of Wheat Importing Countries in 2023
Collectively, the 100 key importers showcased in the database below bought 97.8% of worldwide imports of wheat during 2023 by dollar value.
| Rank | Importer | Wheat Imports | 2022-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | mainland China | $4,305,313,000 | +13.9% |
| 2. | Egypt | $3,773,463,000 | -11.6% |
| 3. | Indonesia | $3,758,408,000 | -1.4% |
| 4. | Türkiye | $3,539,212,000 | +5.5% |
| 5. | Italy | $3,145,431,000 | +12.3% |
| 6. | Spain | $2,830,257,000 | +54.6% |
| 7. | Nigeria | $2,038,700,000 | -10% |
| 8. | Philippines | $1,993,855,000 | -22.8% |
| 9. | Japan | $1,934,744,000 | -23.4% |
| 10. | Morocco | $1,911,254,000 | -25.3% |
| 11. | Algeria | $1,841,712,000 | -31.3% |
| 12. | South Korea | $1,673,873,000 | -6.3% |
| 13. | Germany | $1,513,967,000 | +3.2% |
| 14. | Mexico | $1,436,395,000 | -7.2% |
| 15. | Thailand | $1,333,247,000 | +95.6% |
| 16. | Vietnam | $1,299,837,000 | -13.9% |
| 17. | Brazil | $1,292,291,000 | -37% |
| 18. | Netherlands | $1,109,004,000 | -17.3% |
| 19. | Belgium | $1,051,420,000 | -18.9% |
| 20. | United States | $895,674,000 | +26% |
| 21. | Pakistan | $835,549,000 | -12.6% |
| 22. | Bangladesh | $823,881,000 | -42.4% |
| 23. | Uzbekistan | $798,120,000 | +2.2% |
| 24. | Tunisia | $792,272,000 | -10.8% |
| 25. | Peru | $710,579,000 | -19.3% |
| 26. | Kenya | $670,931,000 | +1.6% |
| 27. | Colombia | $625,790,000 | -29.3% |
| 28. | South Africa | $615,790,000 | -3.2% |
| 29. | United Kingdom | $594,021,000 | -10.6% |
| 30. | Malaysia | $586,669,000 | -1.6% |
| 31. | Saudi Arabia | $563,427,000 | -66.1% |
| 32. | Yemen | $558,947,000 | -44.7% |
| 33. | Iraq | $545,033,000 | +90.4% |
| 34. | Ecuador | $514,655,000 | -17.5% |
| 35. | Taiwan | $482,780,000 | -19.3% |
| 36. | Israel | $480,471,000 | -22.1% |
| 37. | Portugal | $477,095,000 | +9.2% |
| 38. | Tanzania | $462,126,000 | +38.6% |
| 39. | Chile | $365,606,000 | -55.1% |
| 40. | Kazakhstan | $356,073,000 | +7.4% |
| 41. | Greece | $340,922,000 | -14.8% |
| 42. | Ethiopia | $337,490,000 | -61% |
| 43. | United Arab Emirates | $329,881,000 | -49.1% |
| 44. | Austria | $327,376,000 | -24.3% |
| 45. | Azerbaijan | $303,983,000 | -30.4% |
| 46. | Mozambique | $287,152,000 | +7.8% |
| 47. | Sri Lanka | $274,109,000 | +19.9% |
| 48. | Ivory Coast | $267,241,000 | -20.6% |
| 49. | Tajikistan | $261,169,000 | -20.6% |
| 50. | Guatemala | $250,213,000 | -24.3% |
| 51. | Venezuela | $246,001,000 | +13.7% |
| 52. | New Zealand | $243,020,000 | -3.4% |
| 53. | Cameroon | $240,156,000 | -18.7% |
| 54. | Dominican Republic | $236,088,000 | -17.2% |
| 55. | Angola | $229,319,000 | -40.3% |
| 56. | Poland | $206,259,000 | -26.4% |
| 57. | Latvia | $196,770,000 | +3% |
| 58. | Romania | $191,898,000 | -39.2% |
| 59. | Senegal | $185,643,000 | -51.4% |
| 60. | Mauritania | $181,583,000 | -43.7% |
| 61. | Turkmenistan | $176,929,000 | +43.9% |
| 62. | Switzerland | $173,137,000 | -30.5% |
| 63. | Myanmar | $151,008,000 | +48.5% |
| 64. | Jordan | $147,446,000 | -65.2% |
| 65. | Kuwait | $129,851,000 | -19.4% |
| 66. | Democratic Rep. Congo | $129,436,000 | -27.2% |
| 67. | Zimbabwe | $124,497,000 | +23.7% |
| 68. | Guinea | $123,438,000 | +1.7% |
| 69. | El Salvador | $121,704,000 | -13.3% |
| 70. | Sudan | $120,537,000 | -76.8% |
| 71. | Afghanistan | $110,068,000 | -47.1% |
| 72. | Burkina Faso | $105,387,000 | +11% |
| 73. | Costa Rica | $102,765,000 | -7% |
| 74. | Honduras | $101,344,000 | -21.8% |
| 75. | Haiti | $100,858,000 | +13.5% |
| 76. | Norway | $95,263,000 | -14% |
| 77. | Lithuania | $94,895,000 | +75.8% |
| 78. | Papua New Guinea | $88,069,000 | -9.7% |
| 79. | Mali | $86,853,000 | -35.6% |
| 80. | Lebanon | $84,868,000 | -62.7% |
| 81. | Ireland | $84,643,000 | -12.5% |
| 82. | Singapore | $75,494,000 | -3% |
| 83. | Cuba | $70,589,000 | -61% |
| 84. | France | $68,365,000 | -13.8% |
| 85. | Kyrgyzstan | $67,855,000 | -12.9% |
| 86. | Hungary | $65,810,000 | -56.2% |
| 87. | Oman | $64,856,000 | -81.8% |
| 88. | Madagascar | $63,803,000 | -7.3% |
| 89. | Armenia | $61,976,000 | -39.4% |
| 90. | Jamaica | $61,580,000 | -26.9% |
| 91. | Congo | $60,637,000 | -40.5% |
| 92. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $60,405,000 | -42% |
| 93. | Malawi | $60,024,000 | +299.7% |
| 94. | Nicaragua | $59,379,000 | -29.8% |
| 95. | Fiji | $59,240,000 | -24.7% |
| 96. | Luxembourg | $59,177,000 | +4.7% |
| 97. | Panama | $57,763,000 | -20.2% |
| 98. | Georgia | $57,670,000 | -11% |
| 99. | Namibia | $56,053,000 | -2.1% |
| 100. | Denmark | $55,346,000 | -22.9% |
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns above. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2022 data is available.
Among the 100 major markets for imported wheat, the fastest growing demand came from: Malawi (up 299.7% from 2022), Thailand (up 95.6%), Iraq (up 90.4%), Lithuania (up 75.8%) then Spain (up 54.6%.
See also Average Wheat Prices Compared for Biggest Wheat Export Countries, Wheat Exports by Country, America’s Top Trading Partners, Corn Exports by Country and Barley Exports by Country
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 9, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 9, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 9, 2024