October 15, 2015
Wheat imports to Saudi Arabia to reach 3.5 million tonnes in 2016
Saudi Arabia could import 3.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2016, according to the country's wheat-buying agency, the General Silos and Flour Mills Organisation (GSFMO).
In the hope of becoming fully dependent on wheat exports by next year, the country has abandoned its plan for self-sufficiency of the grain and reduced cultivations due to the exacting strains on water supplies from desert farming. 2015, the final year of acquiring local wheat, will see overall purchases of 420,000 tonnes, compared to 1.72 million tonnes in 2008.
Bolstered by a growing population, Saudi Arabia's demand for wheat is expected to increase annually at 3.2%, reaching 4.5 million tonnes yearly by 2025, GSFMO said.
The country's wheat storage capacity, which is 3.1 million tonnes at present, would be raised to four million tonnes by 2020.