Turkey expects one of its largest grain harvests in recent years

Turkey could produce one of its largest grain harvests in recent years in 2026, according to Ahmet Güldal, General Manager of the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), speaking at the İDMA Global Grain & Milling Forum in Istanbul. Preliminary estimates put wheat production at 22.75 million metric tons and barley output at around 9 million metric tons.

According to Güldal, favorable weather conditions and crop monitoring data indicate that final production could even exceed current forecasts. As of June 25, harvesting had been completed on 14% of the country’s wheat area and 13% of its barley area, while average yields in harvested regions are exceeding 4 mt/ha.

To support farmers, TMO announced its 2026 crop procurement prices at the beginning of June. Bread wheat and durum wheat are being purchased at 16,500 Turkish lira per metric ton, while barley is priced at 12,750 lira/mt. According to Güldal, maintaining the same procurement price for bread wheat and durum wheat is intended to support the production of high-quality grain.

Turkey’s state procurement system is fully prepared for the new marketing season. More than 600 grain purchasing centers will operate nationwide, while total storage capacity exceeds 20 million metric tons. According to TMO, more than 80% of grain delivery applications have already been processed, and payments to farmers have begun.

During the forum, officials also highlighted Turkey’s strong position in grain processing. The country remains the world’s largest flour exporter and the second-largest exporter of pasta products. Since 2002, exports of wheat and processed wheat products have generated $54 billion, compared with $33 billion in imports, resulting in a positive trade balance of $21 billion.

TMO also noted that it continues to closely monitor developments in the global grain market. Although global production of wheat, barley, and corn is expected to decline in the new season, substantial carryover stocks are expected to prevent any major supply shortages. Climate change, geopolitical tensions, disruptions to international trade routes, and volatile energy costs remain the key risks facing global grain markets.