Buckwheat market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The buckwheat market contracted in 2019 as sown area fell by 22.3% due to unfavorable price conditions and lower profitability for producers. This reduction in planting led to a significant drop in harvest volume, pulling down both production and market size. The market recovered in 2020 with a 13.5% increase in gross yield, supported by better weather patterns and stabilized prices that renewed producer interest.

After a period of stability in 2021, production and market volume surged in 2022. The following year, despite an 18.1% decline in yield, output remained elevated partly due to the commissioning of a new 60 K t processing and logistics complex in Chelyabinsk Oblast. However, a sharp rise in exports, primarily to China, reduced domestic availability, causing the market size to decline from its 2022 peak.

Production buckwheat in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of buckwheat, 2017-2020

World map of production of buckwheat, 2017-2020

After a two-year decline, buckwheat production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) rebounded. In 2020, the region produced 1 018 thousand tons, marking a 14.7% increase from the previous year. However, looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production actually fell by 44.7%, which translates to an average annual decrease of 17.9%. The lowest point was in 2019, with 888 thousand tons, while the sharpest drop occurred in 2018, when production plunged by 40.9%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports buckwheat from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable pattern over this period. Export volumes fluctuated significantly, with a 1.8-fold difference between the peak in 2018 and the low in 2017. In 2020, foreign buckwheat supplies from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) amounted to 57 008 tons, down 17.0% from the year before. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 73 649 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 78.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the partner structure for buckwheat exports in kind was quite fragmented. China accounted for 20.1% of exports, Lithuania for 11.7%, and Japan for 10.6%. Together, these three countries made up just 42.3% of total flows, with no single nation holding a dominant share.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Buckwheat exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, exports reached 44 113 thousand US dollars, a 65.9% jump compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 85.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of 23.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, buckwheat exports in value terms from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were not highly concentrated. China held 15.3% of exports, Japan 13.1%, and Italy 8.6%. Combined, these three countries captured only 37.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports buckwheat to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, t

Imported buckwheat volumes into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) rose for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 33 829 tons, showing a solid 10.2% year-over-year increase. From 2017 to 2020, imports surged by 96.2%, averaging an annual growth rate of 25.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, and Latvia were among the top suppliers of buckwheat to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), with shares of 18.6%, 13.8%, and 10.1% of imports in kind, respectively. However, even together, they represented just 42.6% of total imports, indicating a broadly diversified partner base.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Buckwheat import volumes into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the third year in a row. In 2020, import value stood at 27 812 thousand US dollars, reflecting a steep 85.7% rise compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports grew by 136.8%, with an average annual rate of 33.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In the 2017-2020 period, buckwheat imports in value terms to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were spread across many countries. Lithuania accounted for 18.1% of imports, Kazakhstan for 12.5%, and Italy for 9.7%. Together, these three countries made up only 40.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020