Arab Grain Imports Rising Rapidly

http://www.earth-policy.org/data_highlights/2012/highlights28

May 02, 2012

Arab Grain Imports Rising Rapidly

Sara Rasmussen

The Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa make up only 5 percent of the world’s population, yet they take in more than 20 percent of the world’s grain exports. Imports to the region have jumped from 30 million tons of grain in 1990 to nearly 70 million tons in 2011. Now imported grain accounts for nearly 60 percent of regional grain consumption. With water scarce, arable land limited, and production stagnating, grain imports are likely to continue rising.