Turkey releases nearly 4 mln tons of grain to curb inflation and support processing sectors

Türkiye’s state grain board, Toprak Mahsulleri Ofisi (TMO), has announced the release of 3.9 million metric tons of corn, barley, milling wheat and durum wheat from its strategic reserves for sale in February 2026. The measure aims to stabilise domestic prices, secure raw material supplies for bulgur, pasta and flour producers, and support affordable animal feed production amid ongoing economic pressures.

TMO has kept offered grain prices unchanged, deliberately avoiding upward revisions in order to support domestic processors and preserve Türkiye’s export competitiveness, particularly in the pasta sector. Rising input costs could otherwise weaken the country’s position against competitors such as Egypt, Italy, Spain and Greece.

Durum wheat accounts for around 1.041 million tonnes of the total volume to be released and remains strategically important for Türkiye’s export-oriented food processing industry. Most of the available durum originates from the 2023 and 2024 harvests, with smaller volumes from the 2025 crop and limited residual stocks from 2022. In some cases, TMO is offering extended payment terms of up to three instalments for eligible producers and mills.

At current exchange rates, prices at TMO silos average about $320 per tonne, representing a discount of roughly $15–20 per tonne compared with domestic open-market levels, but still exceeding prevailing international benchmarks. If maintained, this price gap could constrain the competitiveness of Turkish grain-based exports.

Market pressures have intensified due to lower domestic output. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, wheat and barley production in Türkiye declined by 15% in the 2025/26 season, with total wheat output forecast at around 16.3 million tonnes, including approximately 3.5 million tonnes of durum wheat. As a result, the country has become more reliant on imports and stock releases, while millers and exporters continue to call for policies that ensure supply security and support a sustained recovery in export performance.

Tags: barley, prices, wheat, corn, Turkey