Turkey has recorded some of the lowest temperatures in 30 years in some regions over the past three days, sparking concerns of a loss of winter wheat areas and a production decline.
Severe frost last week — particularly in Central Anatolia, the country's largest wheat production area, where the temperature fell to as low as minus 13°C — could affect wheat production this marketing year.
The weather forecast for the next seven days continued to show temperatures of below zero in the east and southeastern parts of the country. This could further increase the risk of damage to the winter wheat crop. But according to market participants, it is still too early to fully assess the impact.
Turkey received some rainfall in April, which improved soil moisture in some wheat-growing areas that had previously suffered drought.
Turkey's wheat imports are already projected to double on the year to 8mn t in the coming 2025-26 marketing year (June-July), according to the US Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in its April report.
The FAS earlier this month forecast Turkey's wheat crop at 18.5mn t in 2025-26, slightly below the 19mn t for the outgoing marketing year, to reflect the risk of drier weather affecting yields and offsetting a slight rise in areas.
