The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has released a new Cereal Supply and Demand Brief forecasting a record global cereal production of 2 911 million tonnes in 2025, up 2.1% from 2024.

 World cereal utilisation is forecast to increase by 0.8% in 2025/26, reaching 2 898 million tonnes. Global food consumption of cereals is predicted to grow by 0.9%, while feed use is forecast to expand by 0.5%.

 With cereal production expected to exceed utilisation, world cereal stocks are predicted to expand by 1.0% in 2025/26 to 873.6 million tonnes, partially recovering from their contraction in the previous year, said the FAO in its report. 

 Based on the current forecasts, the global cereal stock-to-use ratio should remain broadly stable at 29.8%.

 Global cereal trade is also predicted to rebound by 1.9% in 2025/26 to 487.1 million tonnes, with a 3.8% growth in wheat trade expected to offset a 0.7% contraction for rice, it added.