China’s wheat output in the summer harvest of 2025 edged down 0.1% from a year earlier, official data showed on Thursday, as severe drought hit key growing regions including Henan province, the country’s granary.

The world’s top wheat producer recorded total output of 138.16 million metric tons, slightly down from 138.22 million tons in the previous year’s harvest. That includes winter wheat and spring wheat sown in early spring.

Production of winter wheat, sown in the autumn of last year and harvested in early summer, fell by 45,000 tons to 135.45 million tons, accounting for 98% of the total wheat output.

Total wheat planting acreage dropped 0.1% year-on-year to 23.07 million hectares (57 million acres), according to the National Bureau of Statistics data.

“This year, severe droughts have occurred in major grain-producing areas such as Henan and Shaanxi, adversely affecting summer grain production,” the NBS said in a separate statement.

These two provinces, which account for over a quarter of China’s total wheat output, were hit hard by hot, dry weather in May. In late May, some farmers in Shaanxi and Henan told Reuters their production was slashed by as much as half.

The NBS said timely irrigation efforts and fewer other natural disasters helped to keep overall output stable.
Even with the small decline in output, China’s wheat imports are expected to remain roughly in line with 2024 levels, analysts said.

“China’s imports will be limited if the output drop is going to be 0.1%. it will be similar to last year,” said Ole Houe, director of advisory services at IKON Commodities in Sydney.

Rosa Wang, an analyst at Shanghai-based agro-consultancy JCI, added that ample domestic stocks should also curb imports.

Imports this year have dropped even further after declining in 2024. China was the world’s top wheat importer in 2022 and 2023.

In the first five months of 2025, wheat imports plunged 80% year-on-year. The slump in demand has left Australia, one of its major supplies, with excess wheat .

China’s total grain production for the summer also slipped 0.1% from a year ago to 149.74 million metric tons, while grain planting acreage for the year dropped 0.1% at 26.58 million hectares, the NBS said.

China’s total grain output in the summer harvest includes other cereals such as barley, oats and buckwheat, as well legumes and tuber crops.
Source: Reuters