Browse Data and Analysis

With the development of several billion-dollar projects and nearly 30 million visitors a year, the future for U.S. grain exports is bright. Post anticipates Saudi rice imports to increase approximately five percent over the next several years due to expansions in the food service sector.

The General Food Security Authority (GFSA), an agency of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), purchased approximately 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) of locally produced wheat in MY2022/23.

Recent available data indicates that Saudi Arabia imported approximately 2.7 million metric tons (MMT) of barley in the first six months of MY 2022/23 (July – December 2022), an increase of approximately 11% compared to the same period last year (2.46 MMT).

The Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) projects domestic wheat production at 700,000 metric tons (MT) in MY 2021/2022, up approximately 17 percent from USDA’s official estimate of 600,000 MT. Experts anticipate local domestic wheat production could reach 1 million metric tons (MMT) in MY 2022/2023 to offset expected import delays from Russia and Ukraine as a result of the ongoing war.

Saudi Arabia’s food security strategy is managed by the Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO), and sometime in 2021, they will transfer the barley imports and distribution business back to...

Saudi Arabia privatized two of its four flour milling companies for 740.5 million USD on July 8, 2020. The remaining two are expected to be sold in the next few weeks.

Total Saudi corn imports for this marketing year (MY 2019/20) are estimated at 3.3 million MT, a reduction of approximately 18 percent compared to USDA’s official estimate.

Saudi Arabia partially rescinded a virtual ban on domestic wheat production and is projected to produce 500,000 MT in MY 2019/20.

In MY2014/15, U.S. corn exports continued their dominance of the Saudi market, reaching 1.2 million MT and accounting for 41 percent share of the market.

Saudi corn imports in marketing year (MY) 2017/18 are forecast to increase by 15 percent, to about 4 million MT.

Saudi MY 2017/18 wheat imports are projected at 3.7 million MT, an increase of about six percent compared to this marketing year.

In MY2014/15, U.S. corn exports continued their dominance of the Saudi market, reaching 1.2 million MT and accounting for 41 percent share of the market.