US Milling Industry Outlook Remains Stable — NAMA President

Despite a slight decline in flour output during the second quarter of 2025, the outlook for the U.S. milling industry remains positive, said Jane DeMarchi, president of the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA), during the organization’s annual meeting held October 9–11 in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to her, flour production has stayed relatively stable, with minor fluctuations following the surge in demand during the COVID period.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), a total of 222.9 million bushels of wheat were ground for flour in Q2 2025 — down 2% from the previous quarter and 1% from the same period a year earlier. Overall flour production reached 102.9 million cwts, also 2% lower both quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year.

DeMarchi noted that the industry has shown impressive resilience despite factors such as inflation, the growing popularity of weight-loss drugs, and the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Whole wheat flour production fell to 4.1 million cwts, marking the lowest quarterly level since NASS began collecting data more than a decade ago. At the same time, durum flour and semolina production rose 6.7% year-on-year to 7.8 million cwts.

Innovation remains a key focus across the sector, with millers developing products enriched with fiber and protein that maintain the taste and texture of traditional refined grains. DeMarchi emphasized that the rising interest in fiber-rich foods is linked to the aging U.S. population and growing health awareness among consumers.

Investment activity in the milling industry is also gaining momentum. Greenfield Milling recently opened a new facility in Utah, Star of the West expanded its “super mill” in Indiana, and Mennel Milling acquired Mondelez’s Toledo flour mill. Meanwhile, NAMA is closely following the development of HB4 drought-tolerant wheat by Bioceres Crop Solutions — a potential innovation that could significantly enhance the industry’s resilience to climate change.

Tags: flour, USA