Consistency is key to top US wheat market

Japan may be halfway around the world from Kansas, but the country’s status as the largest consistent buyer for U.S. wheat helps underpin global demand and cash price for Kansas hard red winter wheat. Overall, Japan purchases roughly 10 percent of all U.S. wheat exports each year. That includes imports of three wheat classes — HRW, soft white and hard red spring. In turn, U.S. wheat constitutes 57 percent of Japan’s total annual wheat imports.