Sharp Decline in Global Wheat Flour Trade

London. A report by the International Grains Council (IGC) states that global wheat flour trade for the 2025-26 period has fallen to 15.1 million tonnes (wheat equivalent)—down from the 2024-25 level—marking a five-year low. This figure is 0.9 million tonnes lower than the March forecast of 16 million tonnes.

The primary reason for this decline in global trade is weak demand in Iraq and Sudan. Due to the development and expansion of milling capacities in both countries, the emphasis has shifted towards importing wheat rather than flour. Iraq's flour imports plummeted by 80 percent to 0.3 million tonnes, the lowest level in 21 years.

Consequently, total flour imports in the Middle East fell for the third consecutive year to 1.8 million tonnes, a 14-year low. Similarly, flour imports in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa dropped by 33 percent, settling at 2.2 million tonnes.

During this period, Egypt recorded the sharpest decline in flour exports; its exports slumped from 1.94 million tonnes in the 2024-25 season to 0.635 million tonnes in the 2025-26 season. Turkey exported 3.4 million tonnes of flour, whereas shipments from Kazakhstan increased.