Wheat bran, sharps and residues market in Uruguay

Earlier Report Observations

The market volume for wheat bran, sharps, and residues in Uruguay fluctuated between 2018 and 2021. It started at 152 000 t in 2018, fell to 128 000 t in 2019, then partially recovered to 140 000 t in 2020 before dropping again to 131 000 t in 2021. Domestic production of these by-products declined from 88 750 t in 2018 to 75 500 t in 2021, while imports varied, contributing to the overall market movements.

From 2022, the market began to recover, reaching 141 000 t that year and 152 000 t in 2023, matching the 2018 level. This turnaround coincided with the implementation of Law No. 19829 on extended producer responsibility, which encouraged the valorization of industrial and agro-industrial residues. In 2023, the entry of the Swedish company Our Ecolution, which started operations to manufacture construction boards from wheat straw, created new demand for wheat residues. Additionally, the launch of the Industrial Platform, a virtual marketplace for exchanging industrial by-products, facilitated better market access and utilization of wheat bran and sharps.

In 2024, imports of wheat bran and residues remained significant at 49 000 t, reflecting continued demand. The Uruguayan agro-industrial sector's push towards a bioeconomy, along with growing consumer preference for healthy products like wheat bran, supported the market. The Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning's interest in ecological construction solutions using agricultural residues further highlighted the potential for valorizing wheat by-products.

Production wheat bran, sharps and residues in Uruguay

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wheat bran, sharps and residues, 2017-2020

World map of production of wheat bran, sharps and residues, 2017-2020

Uruguay's production of wheat bran, sharps, and residues has declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 78,750 tons, which represents a 5.9% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 10.4%, averaging an annual decline of 3.6%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 88,750 tons, which also saw the largest annual increase of 1.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports wheat bran, sharps and residues from Uruguay

Exports in kind, t

The export market for wheat bran, sharps, and residues from Uruguay showed significant volatility during this period. In 2019, exports reached their lowest point at 293 tons, marking an 89.7% drop from the previous year. The peak was in 2018 with 2,852 tons, resulting in a 9.7-fold difference between these two years. The largest annual increase occurred in 2018, surging by 573.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Uruguay's exports of wheat bran, sharps, and residues were almost entirely directed to Turkey, which accounted for 100.0% of total export volumes.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values for wheat bran, sharps, and residues from Uruguay experienced notable fluctuations. In 2019, exports totaled $47,000, down 93.3% from 2018. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at $702,000, creating a 15-fold gap between the peak and trough from 2018 to 2019. The largest annual increase was in 2018, jumping by 874.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Uruguay in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017–2020, Turkey was overwhelmingly the primary destination for Uruguay's exports of wheat bran, sharps, and residues in value terms, making up 100.0% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports wheat bran, sharps and residues to Uruguay

Imports in kind, t

After two years of decline, Uruguay's imports of wheat bran, sharps, and residues rebounded in 2020. Imports reached 61,598 tons, a 38.0% increase from 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, imports decreased by 10.1%, averaging an annual decline of 3.5%. The lowest import volume was in 2019 at 44,630 tons, which also saw the largest annual drop of 32.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Uruguay's import market for wheat bran, sharps, and residues was highly concentrated, with Argentina supplying 100.0% of total import volumes.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

Uruguay's imports of wheat bran, sharps, and residues in value terms showed a strong recovery in 2020, totaling $6,199,000 and rising 56.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 7.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.5%. The lowest value was in 2019 at $6,199,000, while the peak was in 2018 at $11,493,000. The largest annual decline occurred in 2019, falling by 46.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Uruguay in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the 2017–2020 period, Argentina was consistently the main source for Uruguay's imports of wheat bran, sharps, and residues in value terms, accounting for 100.0% of total import flows.

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

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