World Grain - November 2023 - 20

COUNTRY FOCUS
Sweden's grain processing sector is highly integrated with
many companies milling the flour used in their own bakery
operations. The nation has 10 mills with a capacity of 900,000
tonnes.
Overall, the food industry is Sweden's fourth largest manufacturing
industry and plays an important role in raising value
by transforming agricultural products into food and drinks,
said EIT Food, an EU group looking to make the food system
more sustainable.
Most agri-food exports go to other European countries,
mostly Nordic. The largest individual markets for Swedish
exports are Denmark, Finland, Norway and the United States.
Crop production, trade
Because of the varied climatic conditions, coarse grains and
forage are predominantly grown in the north with wheat in the
south and central regions. Oilseed production is also mostly in
the southern and central areas.
Winter wheat production is estimated at 2.8 million tonnes,
a drop of 6% compared to 2022. The cultivated area is larger
but yield decreased, the agriculture agency said in its August
harvest report. Winter wheat accounts for 57% of the cereal
harvest.
Spring barley, which is the second largest share of the grain
harvest, is estimated at 1 million tonnes, a drop of 28% from
the previous year. Oat production is estimated at 500,000
tonnes, a drop of 33% compared to the previous year.
Oilseed harvest is estimated at 400,000 tonnes, a drop of
4% from last year but 20% higher than the previous five-year
20
Lantmännen Oats recently completed an expansion of its oats
facility in Kimstad, Sweden, with CESCO supplying storage
equipment and a range of services.
average. Summer rape makes up 94% of the total oilseed
area.
The agency said lower yields were mainly due to drought in
spring and early summer. Rainfall was higher than normal for
the whole country in February and in the southern and central
portions in March. But in April, rainfall was lower than normal
everywhere but the north and then was lower throughout
the country in May and June.
For the first two months of the year, it was also warmer
than normal throughout the country while in March and April
it was colder than usual. May and June were warmer while it
became colder in July, the agency said.
" However, the situation is better than the extreme drought
year of 2018, thanks to a higher proportion of autumn-sown
crops and more favorable temperatures during the early summer, "
said Lantmännen, an agriculture cooperative owned by
18,000 Swedish farmers.
Per Germundsson, head of grain sourcing and sales at Lantmännen's
grain unit, said farmers are facing major challenges
in 2023 including high costs for fuel and mineral fertilizers
and a lower-than-normal harvest.
Although conditions are better than 2018, Germundsson said
this year's harvest shows the long-term need for climate adaptation
in Swedish agriculture to " ensure a harvest that meets the
needs of the Swedish food supply and preparedness. "
November 2023 / World Grain / World-Grain.com
Photo courtesy of CESCO
http://www.World-Grain.com
World Grain - November 2023

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