Grain production grows faster than consumption

The global grain production shows the strongest increase since 2013 in 2025/26. Consumption is also increasing, albeit slightly less strongly than production. The result of this is that grain stocks are rising, concludes the the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the grain report of October. The global grain market is developing robustly. According to the latest figures from the FAO, global grain production in 2025/26 is estimated at 2,971 million tonnes. This is an increase of 3.8% compared to last year and the strongest growth since 2013. On the other hand, grain consumption is also setting new records this season. The consumption of wheat, barley, and corn is on the rise. The FAO expects that global wheat use in the 2025/26 season will reach 804.2 million tonnes; the highest level ever. This growth stems from rising human consumption and increased demand in animal feed. Demand increases due to population growth Due to ongoing population growth, the demand for wheat for food continues to rise. This mainly concerns bread and flour products. Per capita consumption remains stable globally, but due to absolute population growth, total demand increases. Additionally, there are large areas where more wheat is going into animal feed, such as in parts of Asia and North Africa. The FAO expects the increase in wheat consumption to keep pace with increasing production. This does mean that consumption (804 million tonnes) according to the FAO will, like last year, be slightly lower than production (almost 810 million tonnes). Barley is also experiencing an upward trend. Production forecasts have been slightly raised this season, partly due to improved harvest prospects in Australia. This is accompanied by an increasing use of barley as animal feed. The FAO explicitly states that higher use of barley in feed rations is an important part of the global increase in grain consumption. However, corn remains the major driver in the feed industry. Abundant harvests in Brazil and the United States will supply the global market with ample corn. This supply leads to low prices, causing key importers like Egypt and Mexico to purchase extra volumes. The U.S. corn harvest for 2025 is even estimated at a record 427.1 million tonnes. This accounts for a third of global production; the highest share since 2016. Global grain stocks are expected to remain stable and ample. The FAO aims for a ratio between stocks and consumption of 30.6%. This is in line with the levels of recent years. The U.S. and Brazil are further building their corn stocks, while stocks in the EU are decreasing due to a disappointing harvest and increasing demand in feed. Russia and Canada are seeing their wheat stocks rise as a result of larger harvests.