We import wheat and export barley
The State Statistics Committee (SSC) announced the indicators of the food balance for the past year. This balance contains information on the cultivation, import and use of important product varieties. Moreover, those indicators allow to measure the level of provision of important types of products of local production in the country.
The most expected figures in the food balance were related to wheat. Wheat supply is perhaps one of the most discussed issues in the country. After all Azerbaijan traditionally meets its grain needs through imports. The country’s main grain supplier is Russia. However Russia It has been subject to sanctions because it started a war against Ukraine, and because of this, grain exports have been restricted. Ukraine Since it is one of the world’s largest grain producers, the grain market has been experiencing a serious crisis in recent months. This crisis has sharply increased the price of grain products.
The effects of this price increase were also felt seriously in Azerbaijan. Otherwise, several times in the country in the last year bread and the decision to increase flour prices would not be accepted. President Ilham Aliyev also stated in his statement about grain supply that in the coming years Azerbaijan he will not be able to overcome his addiction to this product.
It is clear from the figures announced by the DSK that 1 million 837 thousand tons of wheat were grown in Azerbaijan last year. This number is 2020compared to the year 20 thousand tons or an increase of about 1 percent. But last year’s indicator 2018 and from the figures in 2019 20It lags behind by 0 thousand tons. Last year Azerbaijan 1 million 148 thousand tons of wheat was imported. This means that Azerbaijan Self-sufficiency in wheat in 2021 is 61.5 percent. In the previous two years, this indicator was 57.1 percent. But one point should be taken into account that Azerbaijan Although the dependence on imports in wheat supply as a whole is close to 40 percent, this dependence is sharper in the case of food wheat. Government officials said that Azerbaijan own production covers only 25 percent of grain demand.
Table: Wheat production in Azerbaijan in 2016-2021 (in tons)
Table: Wheat production in Azerbaijan in 2016-2021 (in tons)
The indicators disclosed in the food balance also show the directions in which wheat is used in the country. According to official figures, last year Azerbaijan used a total of 2 million 4 thousand tons of wheat for the production of flour. This is about 400,000 tons lower than the previous two years. Last year, more than half of the grain used in Azerbaijan was used for flour. Most of the wheat needed for the production of flour in the country is imported. The field in which local wheat production has a greater share is animal husbandry. The second field where wheat is used the most is animal husbandry. Last year, 763,000 tons of wheat were used as animal and poultry feed in Azerbaijan. Another 133,000 tons of wheat were allocated as seeds. In 2021, 4 thousand 154 tons of wheat were allocated for the production of alcohol and beer in the country.
Another notable change is related to the significant increase in the volume of wheat allocated to the production of mixed fodder. In previous years, an average of 40,000 tons of wheat was used for the production of mixed fodder in Azerbaijan. Last year, this figure suddenly 100 thousand tons increased to 141 thousand tons. Instead, the volume of wheat used for starch production decreased. In previous years, about 430 tons of wheat were used for this purpose every year. Last year, that figure was only 84 tons. Another serious change affecting the country’s wheat supply is a significant reduction in losses. In previous years, more than 200,000 tons of wheat were lost every year, but in 2021, this number decreased to 59 tons. Instead, at the end of the year, the amount of residual wheat decreased sharply. In the years before 2020, the volume of wheat, which is considered as residual wheat in the country, exceeded 800 thousand tons. In the same year, this figure decreased to 567 thousand tons, and in 2021 it decreased to only 326 thousand tons.
Last year saw an increase in barley production, and for the first time since 2015, barley production exceeded one million tons, making the country fully self-sufficient in barley. Azerbaijan’s annual barley import was only 16 thousand tons. The country even managed to export 36 thousand tons of barley last year. The cultivated barley is mainly focused on two areas. 1 million 31 thousand tons of it were used as fodder in animal husbandry, and 58 thousand tons of barley were used for beer production.
Last year, 104,000 tons of corn were grown in the country. The share of local production in corn supply has exceeded 90 percent. At the same time, this indicator was close to 90 percent in Velamir production. It is clear from the figures related to grain supply that although domestic production is satisfactory in the supply of other grain products, wheat supply continues to be heavily dependent on imports.