STORY: Wheat prices set to rise due to war

The war in Ukraine and Russia is making an impact on wheat prices and availability leading to multiple effects across wheat and farming.

Russia and Ukraine supply around 30% (one third) of the world’s wheat production.

“Since the invasion started, we have already seen a 40% increase in the price of wheat on the MATIF exchange, says Ingredient’s supplier, Jason Bull, director of Eurostar Commodities.

"One third of the global supply of wheat is now under threat. Combined with oil, gas and freight cost increases we are looking at significant shortages and an increase in cost that will hit some flour products with immediate effect and eventually some may see an increase in the region of 50% total.

"Wheat pricing is already at a fourteen-year high. We continue to monitor the situation.”

UK millers are beginning to lose access to raw materials, and it is currently unclear as to whether access to wheat is still available from Russia and Ukraine.

The ethical debate

The next part of the question is whether UK food processing should be using Russian wheat at all.

Brand and food service companies are beginning to question whether there is Russian wheat used as ingredients within their products and requesting abstention from Russian based wheat with immediate effect. This is tightening already short supplies available on the global market.

Husks, damaged grain and some Russian wheat is also used as ‘feed wheat’ in farming for poultry and animals. This will lead to further questions about whether these crops are available at all, and ethically justified to be used in UK farming. 

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