Availability of wheat in UK down year-on-year – AHDB
UK wheat availability for 2025/26 is estimated at 16.14 MMT, slightly above earlier forecasts but below last year due to lower stocks and imports. Feed use is rising on strong poultry demand, while human and industrial usage is falling, hit by weaker bioethanol demand and softer flour milling consumption.
The total availability of wheat in the UK for the 2025/2026 grain trading year has been estimated at 16.138Mt by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB).
The total availability figure is estimated to be 122Kt higher than AHDB’s initial estimate in November but 835Kt lower on the year with lower opening stocks and imports, outweighing a rise in production.
Following the release of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Cereals and Oilseed Rape Production survey in December, the final estimate for wheat production in 2025 is 122Kt higher than AHDB’s provisional estimate and 812Kt higher year-on-year, at 11.958 Mt.
Imports are estimated at 2.200Mt, unchanged from the previous estimate, but 868Kt lower than 2024/2025 levels.
From July to November 2025, the UK had imported 1.063Mt of wheat, nearly 400Kt lower than the same point in 2024/2025.
While 2025/2026 milling wheat imports are expected to return to more typical levels, demand for imported feed wheat, mainly into Northern Ireland, is expected to be relatively strong.
This trend has driven by an increase in poultry feed demand. Imported wheat into Northern Ireland is expected to displace some imported maize.
Animal feed
The amount of wheat used in animal feed in 2025/2026 is estimated at 7.085Mt, 43Kt higher than November’s estimate and 277Kt up year-on-year.
Despite a drop in usage by compounders in Great Britain (GB) due to a fall in feed production, the rise from the previous estimate is driven by increased demand from integrated poultry units (IPUs) and compounders in Northern Ireland.
During the first three months of the season – July to September 2025 – feed compounders in Northern Ireland used 19% more wheat than the previous season, displacing some maize from rations.
With its relative price and with poultry feed demand in Northern Ireland remaining strong, wheat is expected to be a firm favourite in rations this season.
The increase on the year is driven by stronger total feed demand as well as higher inclusions, with wheat stealing some demand back off maize across the UK.
The amount of wheat fed on farm is unchanged from previous estimates.
Human and industrial usage
Meanwhile, in 2025/2026, human and industrial (H&I) demand for wheat is estimated at 6.516Mt, down 54Kt from November’s estimate and 613Kt down from 2024/2025 levels.
The fall from the previous estimate is largely driven by a drop in flour millers’ usage.
While flour production is only estimated to be slightly lower than previously expected, extraction rates are higher than originally anticipated, leading to the overall decline.
The drop is largely driven by a fall in demand from the bioethanol sector, with neither UK bioethanol plant currently in operation.
Wheat demand by flour millers is also expected to be lower on the year, driven by changing consumer habits and improved extraction rates.
With a very functional milling wheat crop this season, the proportion of home-grown wheat included in the grist is expected to come back down nearer to more typical levels.
Demand for wheat by distillers remains down, while demand by starch manufacturers is expected to be somewhat buoyant.
To Read more about Wheat News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Agriland
