In 2011, the cereal industry and traders purchased a total of 1.7 billion kilos of cereals from farms. In addition, a total of 100 million kilos of turnip rape and oilseed rape seed was purchased. Industry used a total of 1.4 billion kilos of domestic and foreign cereals in 2011. This information is indicated by recently prepared statistics by Tike (Information Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry).

About half of cereals grown in Finnish fields are sold by farms. The cereals kept by farms are used as animal feed. In 2011, farms supplied a total of 1.7 billion kilos of cereals to the market. This is 21% less than in 2010. The quantity of cereals partially comprises the 2010 crop (3.0 billion kilos) and that of 2011 (3.7 billion kilos).

59 million kilos of rye to the market

The volume of all types of cereal purchased from farms decreased, except for rye, the purchasing volume of which increased. In 2011, almost 59 million kilos of rye was purchased from farms, i.e. 32% more than the previous year. The Finnish food industry consumed 95 million kilos of rye, which is equal to the volume for 2010. The purchasing volume of Finnish rye covered 60% of the food industry's rye consumption. Rye's degree of domestic origin increased because the share in 2010 was 47%, and only 30% in 2009.

264 million kilos of wheat used in foods

Wheat is used more extensively in bread than rye and the food industry consumed 264 million kilos of wheat during 2011. The volume of wheat consumed by the feed industry came to 187 million kilos. The share of bread wheat varies by the quality of the wheat crop. So for example about two-thirds of the wheat crop in the summer of 2010 met the quality requirements for bread wheat. Based on advance information, the crop quality in summer 2011 seems to be at least equally good.

267 million kilos of barley used for feed

In 2011, the feed industry used a total of 267 million kilos of domestic and foreign barley, i.e., 12% more than in 2010. The higher consumption of barley also shows as a change in stock. During 2011, the barley stock decreased by 40 million kilos, and by almost 130 million kilos over the last two years.

As much as 63 million kilos of oats used in foods

The use of oat in foods has increased by 9%, and it amounts to 63 million kilos. 137 million kilos of oats were used for feed in 2011, which is 15% less than in 2010. Oat purchase volumes from farms have remained the same for at least the last three years.

The volume of turnip rape and rape purchased from farms in 2011 was 36% less than in 2010. A total of 100 million kilos of turnip rape and rape entered the market.

At the end of 2011, the stocks of trade and industry contained a total of about 510 million kilos of cereals, i.e. 46 million kilos less than in 2010. In the cereals stocks, 36% was oat, 29% barley, 29% wheat and 6% rye. There was a total of about 12 million kilos of turnip rape and oilseed rape in the stocks.

Background information

The data was obtained from Statistics on cereals purchased, used and stockpiled by industry and trade, which is compiled by Tike. Cereal purchase statistics (statistics on entry into the market) is collected quarterly from all companies in Finland purchasing cereals or turnip rape/rape directly from farms. Statistics on the use of domestic and foreign cereals are collected quarterly from the food and feed industry and other branches of industry using cereals.  Statistics about inventories of domestic and foreign cereals and turnip rape/rape are collected semi-annually from all companies that have such inventories at the end of June or December.

More information:
Tike, Statistical Service
Actuary Sirpa Karppinen, puh. 020 77 21341
Statistics Manager Anneli Partala, puh. 020 77 21376
E-mail address format: firstname.lastname@mmmtike.fi