Turkish Grain Board (TMO) Chairman and General Manager Ahmet Güldal said at İDMA Istanbul 2026 that Türkiye could experience one of its highest grain production seasons in recent years. Noting that wheat production is estimated at 22.75 million tonnes and barley production at 9 million tonnes, Güldal underlined that TMO is strongly prepared for the new season with more than 600 procurement centres and storage preparations exceeding 20 million tonnes.

İDMA Istanbul 2026, one of the most important international meeting points for milling machinery, grain processing technologies and grain-based industries, brought together local and international representatives of the sector at the Istanbul Expo Center. Speaking at the opening of the İDMA Global Grain & Milling Forum, Ahmet Güldal, Chairman and General Manager of the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), shared his assessments on the 2026 grain season.

Güldal said Türkiye may see one of its highest grain production seasons in recent years in 2026, adding that field data and climatic conditions have strengthened crop expectations. According to the initial estimates announced by the Ministry, wheat production is expected to reach 22.75 million tonnes, while barley production is forecast at 9 million tonnes. Güldal stated that current field observations indicate production could even exceed these figures.

Güldal recalled that TMO announced its 2026 grain procurement prices at the beginning of the harvest season, on 2 June. He said the procurement price was set at 16,500 Turkish lira per tonne for bread wheat and durum wheat, and 12,750 Turkish lira per tonne for barley. Emphasising the importance of encouraging quality in durum wheat production, Güldal noted that, as in the previous year, procurement prices for bread wheat and durum wheat were kept at the same level. He said the aim of this policy is to support the sustainability of quality production, drawing particular attention to the strategic importance of high-quality durum wheat.

Güldal stated that, as of 25 June, the harvest had reached 14 percent for wheat and 13 percent for barley across the country. He said positive data had been received from harvested regions, with average yields exceeding 400 kilograms per decare. Güldal also noted that producers were not experiencing any difficulty in obtaining appointments and that the appointment fulfilment rate was above 80 percent, while product payments had already begun.

OVER 20 MILLION TONNES OF STORAGE PREPARATIONS

Stressing that TMO entered the new procurement season with a strong operational organisation, Güldal said more than 600 procurement centres had been planned across the country for the 2026 season. He stated that licensed warehouses provide approximately 10 million tonnes of storage capacity and that, together with TMO’s own warehouses, leased warehouses and open-pile storage areas, total storage preparations have exceeded 20 million tonnes.

Güldal said this capacity provides confidence for both producers and the market, adding that TMO has made extensive preparations in the field to ensure that producers can deliver their crops without disruption. He emphasised that the institution acts with an approach that takes into account the balance between producers, industrial users and consumers.

IDMA SERVES AS A COMMON PLATFORM FOR GRAIN-BASED INDUSTRIES

In his speech, Güldal also drew attention to the importance of grain-based industries for the national economy. He said the sectors that transform the efforts of Turkish producers into added value come together under the umbrella of İDMA. Reminding that Türkiye ranks first in the world in flour exports and second in pasta exports, Güldal underlined that İDMA is of great importance in demonstrating to the world the level Türkiye has reached in grain-based industries. He noted that bringing domestic machinery manufacturers, industrialists, exporters and public institutions together on the same platform creates strong synergy for the sector, adding that İDMA is a valuable organisation in terms of knowledge sharing, technology transfer, new business partnerships and expansion into global markets.

Güldal stated that, since 2002, Türkiye has generated USD 54 billion in exports in wheat and wheat products against USD 33 billion in imports, providing a net foreign trade contribution of USD 21 billion to the national economy. In maize, he added, the net foreign trade contribution over the same period has reached USD 10 billion.

These figures, Güldal said, show that Türkiye is not only serving its domestic market in grain-based industries but also has strong competitiveness in global markets. He stressed that cooperation among producers, industrial users and public authorities is critical for sustaining the success achieved in flour, pasta and other grain-based products.

TMO REMAINS A SAFE HARBOUR FOR ALL STAKEHOLDERS

Referring to TMO’s role in the market, Güldal said the institution continues to preserve its position as a safe harbour for all stakeholders, as it has done in the past. He stated that TMO contributes to the healthy functioning of the market by acting in consultation with the private sector. Güldal said TMO operates with the responsibility of protecting producers’ labour, supporting industrial users’ access to raw materials and ensuring consumers’ uninterrupted access to basic food products. He noted that this approach has become even more important in a period marked by climatic fluctuations, global supply uncertainties and price volatility.

GLOBAL GRAIN SUPPLY RISKS REMAIN UNDER CLOSE WATCH

Güldal also shared assessments on world grain markets. He said global production of wheat, barley and maize is expected to decline in the new season, but no serious supply-side problem is foreseen thanks to high stock levels. However, he pointed out that climate change, geopolitical developments, uncertainties in trade corridors and energy costs continue to affect global grain markets.

Güldal said TMO is monitoring all these developments closely and meticulously, adding that Türkiye continues to provide confidence to the market in the new season with its strong stock structure and widespread procurement organisation.

Concluding his remarks by noting that the new season has been fruitful, Güldal emphasised that TMO will continue to stand by producers in the field. “TMO is a well-established public institution capable of managing not only scarcity but also abundance. We continue our work with the responsibility of protecting the labour of our producers, supporting our industrial users’ access to raw materials and ensuring uninterrupted access to basic food products for our consumers,” he said.