“Wheat yield in the Central Anatolia region was lower than was expected in our previous report,” the USDA said. “The quality was better than expected in the GAP region (Southeast Turkey) and in the lower part of Central Anatolia. Last May and June were the rainiest months in the history of the Thrace region, leading to better yields than the previous year. The Cukurova region also received timely and abundant rain.”

Wheat consumption for the 2017-18 marketing year was forecast at 17.7 million tonnes, up from 17.4 million tonnes in 2016-17. Exports, meanwhile, were forecast at 6.5 million tonnes, up from 6.174 million tonnes, while imports were put at 5 million tonnes, up from 4.533 million tonnes, the USDA said.

Production estimates for both corn and barley were lowered from earlier forecasts, the USDA said. In the case of corn, lower yields in the Cukurova and GAP regions prompted a lowering in the production forecast to 5.4 million tonnes from 5.5 million tonnes, which compared with 5.5 million tonnes during 2016-17, the USDA said.

Production forecasts for barley were lowered to 6.4 million tonnes from an estimated 7 million tonnes earlier in the year. Even so, the forecasted output for barley still would be up sharply from 4.75 million tonnes in 2016-17.

“Barley yield in the Central Anatolia region was lower than was expected in our previous report,” the USDA said. “Late rains in spring were not enough to eliminate the winter drought effect in some areas in Central Anatolia.”