Market research

Wheat and meslin market in Central America

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Central America" region includes following countries:

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Earlier Report Observations

The wheat and meslin market in Central America contracted significantly between 2018 and 2021, with total volume falling from 9.5 million tons to 6.9 million tons. This decline was driven by a sharp drop in imports, which were nearly halved over the period, while domestic production fluctuated but remained relatively stable.

From 2022, the market began to recover, posting modest growth to 7.0 million tons, before surging to 9.9 million tons in 2023. The rebound was primarily due to a dramatic increase in import volumes, which rose by 94% in 2023, compensating for a slight dip in domestic production that year.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Central America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, M $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, M $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, M $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, M $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, M $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, M $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production wheat and meslin in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of wheat and meslin, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Central America produced 2 988 thousand tonnes of wheat and meslin, marking a 7.9% decrease from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 14.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.2%. The lowest production level was observed in 2018 at 2 945 thousand tonnes. That same year saw the largest decline of 16.0%, while the most significant increase occurred in 2019 with a 10.2% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.0%)	10.2%	(7.9%)	(5.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Central America's wheat and meslin production value increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the output was valued at 794.2 million US dollars, showing a moderate 3.9% growth compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 711.8 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 9.3%. The most substantial increase happened in 2019 with a 7.4% rise.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.3%)	7.4%	3.9%	0.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports wheat and meslin from Central America

Exports in kind, K t

Following two years of growth, Central America's wheat and meslin export volume declined. In 2020, exports totaled 310 thousand tonnes, a sharp 60.9% drop from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 29.2%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 10.9%. The peak was reached in 2019 at 793 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 46.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	24.0%	46.0%	(60.9%)	(10.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Venezuela, Turkey, and Algeria remained the top buyers of wheat and meslin from Central America, accounting for 44.5%, 27.2%, and 23.5% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries represented 95.2% of total exports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, M $ US

After two years of growth, Central America's wheat and meslin exports in value terms declined. In 2020, exports amounted to 82 million US dollars, down 55.9% from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 16%, translating to an annualized rate of 5.6%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 187 million US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 42.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	33.8%	42.3%	(55.9%)	(5.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

During 2017–2020, Venezuela, Turkey, and Algeria were the primary markets for Central America's wheat and meslin exports in value terms, with shares of 43.9%, 26.7%, and 24.5%, respectively. Collectively, they accounted for 95.1% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports wheat and meslin to Central America

Imports in kind, K t

Wheat and meslin imports into Central America declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, import volume stood at 6 167 thousand tonnes, reflecting a 5.7% decrease year-over-year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports dropped by 2.9%, equating to an annualized rate of 1.0%. The highest volume was recorded in 2018 at 7 080 thousand tonnes, which saw the largest increase of 11.5%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019 with a 7.6% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	11.5%	(7.6%)	(5.7%)	(1.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States dominated wheat and meslin imports into Central America in kind, holding a 72.1% share of total flows, with the remainder distributed among other trading partners.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, M $ US

Cross-border shipments of wheat and meslin into Central America declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, imports reached 1 532 million US dollars, representing a moderate 3.6% decrease compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 8.9%, corresponding to an annualized rate of 2.9%. The peak value was in 2018 at 1 630 million US dollars, which also recorded the largest increase of 15.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.8%	(2.5%)	(3.6%)	2.9%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the import structure in value terms was heavily concentrated on the United States, which accounted for 72.6% of total flows, with other partners making up the rest.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io