October 21, 2002

Global Durum Production is Up for 2002/03

This article examines durum production in selected countries.  These production numbers reflect reports from U.S. agricultural attaches and analysis by Washington-based USDA personnel. 

Total 2002/03 durum wheat production is up 10 percent from last year.  The European Union (EU), Canada, and the United States, combined, are up 13 percent.  They are major exporters, accounting for almost sixty percent of global production.  Despite increased production, durum prices are higher than last year.  Recent sales of durum are averaging  $216/metric ton, which is approximately $46 more or 27 percent higher than a year earlier.  Exportable supplies are limited due to reduced carry-on stocks, especially from  major exporters, leading to higher prices.  On the demand side, extremely dry weather and sharply lower production in North Africa has prompted additional demand for imported durum, helping strengthen prices. 

North America

In the United States, durum production is substantially lower this year. Most of this decrease comes from North Dakota’s smaller crop.  This state alone, accounts for 70 percent of total U.S. production.  Quality is reported to be generally good. Durum thrives in a climate characterized by cool summer nights, long warm days, adequate but not excessive rainfall and a dry harvest - conditions typical of North Dakota. Durum is planted between mid-April and the end of May, and harvested in August and September.  During the past three years, the state's farmers have planted an average of 1.3 million hectares and harvested an average of 2.1 million tons.

Durum wheat production in Canada is forecast to be larger than last year, due to improved yields, although they are still well below the 1996-2000 average of 2.14 tons per hectare.  Durum wheat is planted exclusively in the spring, and the durum-growing region is in the southern portion of the prairie, north of Montana, and North Dakota.  That area was affected severely by drought last year, and despite what seems to be sufficient moisture in 2002, yield potential is once again diminished, this time by high temperatures during flowering.  Wet weather during harvesting has affected durum quality.  In the September’s Saskatchewan Crop Report there is mention of low quality spring wheat.  Over the years, wheat quality data has shown that there is a close relationship between the quality of Saskatchewan spring wheat and that of durum.  On average, about 75 percent of the Canadian durum crop is produced in Saskatchewan (mostly in the southern and western portions of the province).  In southern Saskatchewan, where 60 percent of the spring wheat crop has been harvested, just 13 percent is graded No. 1 (average is 52 percent).

South America

Argentine durum production is down due to lower acreage.  Durum planted area has declined along with hard wheat area as Argentine farmers face economic uncertainty.  Argentine durum grows in southern Buenos Aires Province and is concentrated in the Tres Arroyos delegation.  Planting of the 2002/03 durum crop in Argentina was 88 percent complete as of August 23, slightly behind last year’s pace.  Planting typically begins in late June and finishes by early September.  Harvest begins in December and finishes by late January.

Central America

In Mexico, durum wheat production is similar to last year.  Most of the durum is produced in northern Mexico in the states of Sonora, Baja California, Sinaloa and Chihuahua.  Approximately half of this production is used for feeding livestock.  The remaining half is equally distributed for exports to North Africa and domestic consumption as pasta and other durum wheat products.

Europe and Black Sea

In the European and Black Sea region, larger crops in the European Union (EU), Syria (record crop), and Russia, are being offset by smaller drought-affected crops in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. 

The European Union's durum wheat production has increased due to better yield.  The average yield has improved substantially from 2.22 tons per hectare last year to 2.45 in 2002, near the five-year average.  Unlike Canada, EU durum is planted exclusively during the autumn months.  Farmers have tended to plant progressively more durum wheat in recent years due to the additional premium paid over the soft wheat subsidy.  The largest regional durum producing countries are ranked in the following order: Italy, Spain, France, and Greece.  Portugal, Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom also contribute small amounts. 

Syria produced a record wheat crop this year.  Durum accounts for about 60 percent of Syria’s total wheat crop.  The largest durum area is within the Al-Hassake region.  This increase is based on better yields due to ample rainfall during the critical stages.  Harvested durum area is forecast at 1.1 million hectares, where approximately 40 percent of the durum crop is irrigated and 60 percent is non-irrigated.  Durum wheat production is reported in Syrian official statistics.   

In Turkey, durum production is higher than last year.  Prospects are favorable due to good precipitation this year and wheat yields are much better than last year’s poor crop.  Harvested area is forecast at 1.1 million hectares, as farmers continue to plant durum in response to higher support prices versus other wheat.  The Southeastern Anatolia region produces about 50-60 percent of the total durum, with the remaining 40-50 percent produced in Central Anatolia, around Ankara and Kayseri.  Turkey has a large pasta industry and is a major exporter.  Durum wheat is not reported in Turkish official statistics and production is often not marketed.

Russia’s durum wheat production is down slightly from last year.  The State Statistical Committee typically does not publish area or production data on durum wheat; this report is based on information gathered from agricultural officials, local commodity analysts, and farmers.  Roughly 70 percent of Russia’s durum wheat is produced in the southern Urals region (specifically Orenburg oblast), with the remainder grown in the Volga Valley (eastern Saratov oblast) and Western Siberia (Altai Krai).  Durum production is highly variable from year to year because it is grown largely in zones of risky agriculture, subject to frequent drought.  Durum is not considered to be a priority crop in Russia.  Most farmers in the durum zone prefer to focus instead on growing high-quality hard wheat for bread because of hard wheat’s larger demand, higher profitability, and better yield.  Furthermore, few mills are capable of processing durum wheat

In Kazakhstan, durum production is estimated roughly the same as last year’s output.  In the early 1990’s, roughly ten percent of all spring wheat grown in Kazakhstan has been durum.  Since then, however, sown area has been declining due to a drop in demand. According to U.S. agricultural attaché, durum wheat is now produced by only a few companies for their own needs, largely for macaroni production.  Kazakhstan farmers are unlikely to increase durum production in the near future. 

North Africa

Durum wheat production in Northwest Africa (Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia), which was harvested in the summer, is estimated down 900,000 tons from last year due to smaller acreage.  Drought once again struck the wheat crop in the Maghreb, as it has in this fragile region for each one of the last four years. During the 2002/03 season, Tunisia was struck severely by the lack of rainfall, but adjacent areas of central and eastern Algeria also recorded drought-reduced wheat and barley totals.  Meanwhile, Morocco and western Algeria help offset the large losses being recorded in the east by producing larger crops.  Their good fortune is the result of timely and plentiful rains during spring that never penetrated onto the eastern sections of Africa’s Mediterranean Coast. 

Morocco’s durum crop is similar to last year’s good crop with beneficial spring rains.  On average, Morocco harvests 950,000 tons of durum from a total of 2.7 million tons of wheat.  Algeria’s crop has had large variations in its regional production totals this season, as a consequence of uneven rainfall.  Total durum in Algeria is down from last year, producing at average yields.  Tunisia’s durum production is down 60 percent from last year’s crop, and 65 percent below the five-year average production level. 

Oceania

Australia is forecast to produce significantly less than in 2001/02 season.  This season has experienced very dry conditions through most growing areas including the durum areas of northern New South Wales.  The crop will be harvested late November to early December, somewhat accelerated due the unusually dry conditions.  There is limited public information on durum production in Australia as a result of limited monitoring and census budget cuts.  In previous years, Australia has exported wheat to Italy for pasta production.

South Asia

India is estimated to produce more than the previous season.  The main producing areas in central India began the planting season with abundant soil moisture last fall, followed by some dryness in February 2002.  Timely rains in late February to March provided critical moisture at the end of reproduction into grain fill, boosting yields.  The crop was harvested late April to May.

Durum is grown mainly in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, parts of Punjab, south Rajasthan, and Maharashtra and production varies between five and twelve per cent of total wheat output.  The USDA agricultural office in New Delhi estimates there is less than 1.2 million tons of durum grown in India.  The GOI does not offer a separate estimate of durum through any of its crop forecasting or monitoring programs.  Possibly with more private companies entering the Indian market, contract farming will become more commonplace and consequently durum production may be increased in the future and marketed separately.

Durum wheat comprises a small portion of the total wheat grown in India.  Durum is called by various names such as Samba in Tamil Nadu, Ravva Godhumulu in Andhra, Popatiya in Gujarat and Khapli in Maharashtra.  The ‘central zone’ consists of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, the Bundelkhund area of Uttar Pradesh, and the south eastern portion of Rajasthan.  The central zone grows both the durum and white wheat.  Most of the wheat grown in this zone is rainfed, with the notable exception of wheat in Gujarat where a considerable area is irrigated. The Central Zone is the most important zone of durum production and is grown under rainfed conditions.

 Durum Production by Country/Region (1,000 tons)

For more information, contact Michelle Greenberg with the Production Estimates and Crop Assessment Division on (202) 720-7339.