FAO: World cereal production in 2024 expected to decline slightly by 0.4%

For 2024, global wheat production is expected to reach the second highest level on record, attributed to increased cultivation in Asia and favorable weather conditions, despite significant declines in Europe. Meanwhile, global coarse grain production, which hit a record in 2023, is projected to decrease to the second highest level, primarily due to adverse weather conditions impacting maize production. Rice planting for 2024/25 is anticipated to result in a slight increase in global rice production to a record high. The article also discusses the status of winter wheat planting in the northern hemisphere, including challenges such as drought and heavy rain, and provides an overview of planting trends and conditions in key cereal-producing regions. It also highlights the global demand and supply dynamics, including projections of consumption, stocks, and trade for the major cereal crops, with an emphasis on the expected increases in rice self-sufficiency and decreases in wheat self-sufficiency among importing countries.