FOCUS ON SWEDEN
With only 6.5% of its land cultivated and a Nordic climate, Sweden’s agricultural sector features a limited number of crops and a large dairy sector. With a diverse climate, there are significant differences in production conditions and production types between southern and northern Sweden, according to the European Commission’s Agriculture and Rural Development. The growing period is almost 100 days longer in the south than in the north. The key grains grown in Sweden include wheat, oats, rye, and corn. Rapeseed is the dominant oilseed. Cereals and cereal products are the nation’s largest exports. Exports in the first half of 2023 increased 12.1% to SEK 68 billion ($6.16 billion), with cereal exports increasing 23% to SEK 6.1 billion ($553 million), according to the Swedish Agency for Agriculture.
Because of the varied climatic conditions, coarse grains and forage are predominantly grown in the north with wheat in the south and central regions. Oilseed production is also mostly in the southern and central areas. Winter wheat production is estimated at 2.8 million tonnes, a drop of 6% compared to 2022. The cultivated area is larger but yield decreased, the agriculture agency said in its August harvest report. Winter wheat accounts for 57% of the cereal harvest. Spring barley, which is the second largest share of the grain harvest, is estimated at 1 million tonnes, a drop of 28% from the previous year. Oat production is estimated at 500,000 tonnes, a drop of 33% compared to the previous year.
Oilseed harvest is estimated at 400,000 tonnes, a drop of 4% from last year but 20% higher than the previous five-year average, and lower yields were mainly due to drought in spring and early summer. Per Germundsson, head of grain sourcing and sales at Lantmännen’s grain unit, said farmers are facing major challenges in 2023 including high costs for fuel and mineral fertilizers and a lower-than-normal harvest. Sweden’s grain processing sector is highly integrated with many companies milling the flour used in their own bakery operations. The nation has 10 flour mills with a total capacity of 900,000 tonnes (wheat equivalent), according to the European Flour Millers, and flour production is estimated at 550,000 tonnes.
(Link: WorldGrain)
