U.S. Remains Reliable Supplier of Wheat to Japan and the World

Sept. 7, 2010

Recent news of poor wheat crops in some areas has led to speculation that world supplies of this important food grain over the next year will be tight. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that traditional exporters, particularly the United States, maintain wheat stocks that are more than sufficient to compensate for any global wheat shortfall this year. The United States stock of wheat of 26 million tons is three times larger than just a few years ago, and U.S. exports of food grains to Japan remain important for the U.S. agricultural economy.

Japan is the United States' largest and most reliable wheat customer and the relationship between Japan and the U.S. in agriculture is a key part of our bilateral partnership. Japan imports about 3 million tons of wheat from the United States annually. These imports, together with the wheat produced by Japanese farmers, have ensured that the Japanese population has enjoyed adequate supplies of bread and noodles for over 60 years. The United States has an open market for grain in which all our customers, be they American or not, are able to purchase our wheat, corn and soybeans on an equal basis without discrimination. By maintaining an open market for exports of grains, the United States is reinforcing its reputation as a reliable supplier of agricultural products.