World Grain - November 2023 - 18

COUNTRY FOCUS
KEY FACTS
FOCUS ON
SWEDEN
Drought impacting nation's grain
and oilseed harvests
by Susan Reidy
With only 6.5% of its land cultivated and a Nordic climate, Sweden's
agricultural sector features a limited number of crops and a
large dairy sector.
Sweden is one of the largest countries in Europe in terms of area
but only 2.7 million hectares is cultivated. With a diverse climate,
there are significant differences in production conditions and production
types between southern and northern Sweden, according to
the European Commission's Agriculture and Rural Development.
The growing period is almost 100 days longer in the south than
the north.
The key grains grown in Sweden include wheat, oats, rye and
corn. Rapeseed is the dominant oilseed.
Drought this spring and summer has lowered the country's total
grain and oilseed harvests, according to the Swedish Agency for
Agriculture. Total production is estimated at 4.9 million tonnes for
2023, a drop of 15% from last year's harvest and 5% lower than the
previous five-year average.
Crop production accounts for 40% of the production value of
the agriculture sector while dairy and bovine meat accounts
for one-third.
" In addition, Sweden is characterized
by long transportation distances and
sparsely populated areas, with almost
60% of the population living
in rural and intermediate regions, "
the EC said.
Primary crops in Sweden include
wheat, barley and oats,
with 40% of the land sown
with cereals. Cereals and cereal
products are the nation's
largest exports. Exports in
the first half of 2023 increased
12.1% to SEK 68 billion ($6.16
billion), with cereal exports increasing
23% to SEK 6.1 billion
($553 million), according to the
Swedish Agency for Agriculture.
18
Capital: Stockholm
Population: 10,536,338 (2023 est.)
Religions: Church of Sweden (Lutheran)
57.6%, other (includes Roman Catholic,
Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and
Buddhist) 8.9%, none or unspecified 33.5%
(2019 est.)
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the
Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and
Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway.
Government: Parliamentary constitutional
monarchy. Chief of state: King Carl XVI
Gustaf (since Sept. 15, 1973); head of government:
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson
(since Oct. 18, 2022); Deputy Prime Minister
Ebba Busch (since Oct. 18, 2022)
Economy: Sweden is a sophisticated market
featuring affluent and well-educated
consumers. Its economy emerged from the
pandemic in relatively good shape but is
now under pressure from high living costs
and rising interest rates. Consumer and
business confidence have fallen, with rising
borrowing costs also taking a toll on
household incomes and property companies
facing challenges refinancing debts.
GDP growth is expected to resume in 2024
to 1.4% after a mild contraction of 0.3% in
2023. Inflation peaked at a 30-year high and
monetary policy tightening has helped to
contain long-term inflation expectations.
The nation has more than halved its greenhouse
gas emissions since the 1970s and a
green industry revolution is taking place in
Sweden's north. Persistent long-term unemployment
following the COVID-10 pandemic
has coincided with a high level of job
vacancies. Low-skilled, foreign-born and
elderly people find it difficult to succeed
in the labor market where a compressed
wage distribution demands skills and productivity.
High labor taxes and changes to
the pension system also reduce incentives
to work.
GDP per capita: $54,800 (2021); inflation:
2.16% (2021 est.); unemployment: 8.66%
(2021 est.).
Currency: Swedish krona (SEK); 11.02 kronor
equal 1 US dollar (Oct. 18, 2023).
Exports: $290.79 billion (2021, note: data
are in current year dollars): cars and vehicle
parts, refined petroleum, packaged medicines,
lumber, iron, broadcasting equipment
(2021).
Imports: $263.27 billion (2021, note: data
are in current year dollars): cars and vehicle
parts, crude petroleum, refined petroleum,
broadcasting equipment, computers
(2021).
Agriculture: 1.6% (2021) of GDP and 2% of
the labor force.
Internet: Code: .se ; 8.8 million (2021 est.)
users.
Source : CIA World Factbook/World Bank/OECD
November 2023 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
http://www.World-Grain.com
World Grain - November 2023

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