ISTANBUL, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's wheat production is expected to reach 18.65 million tons this year, falling below the long-term average of 20 million tons due to climate factors, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Thursday, citing latest estimates by the National Grain Council (UHK).
The report attributed the projected decrease in wheat output to climate variables, including a severe drought in March, as well as heavy rains and extremely low temperatures in the first half of April.
According to Anadolu, Türkiye's planting area of strategic wheat has gradually expanded from 6.8 million hectares to 7.6 million hectares over the last three years.
Türkiye is a major agricultural exporter in the global market. Addressing the Pre-Harvest Grain Congress held in late April, UHK Chairman Ozkan Taspinar highlighted that the country has maintained a surplus in agricultural foreign trade.
He said Türkiye exported agricultural products valued at 32.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, with a 5.4-billion-dollar trade surplus, noting that 8.5 million tons of wheat-equivalent finished products were exported last year, compared to 4.5 million tons of wheat imports. ■