# USDA releases first cut of the 2026/27 global wheat balance sheet… - Grain Brokers Australia

> USDA's May WASDE projects 2026/27 world wheat production at 819.1 million tonnes, down 24.7 million from 2025/26. The US harvest is forecast at 42.5 million tonnes, with hard red winter at 14.0 million tonnes, the smallest since 1957. Lower EU and Australian crops also contribute to the decline.

- Date: 2026-05-20 · published 2026-05-20T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region Global · magnitude high
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/19238-usda-releases-first-cut-of-the-2026-27-global-wheat-balance-sheet-grain-brokers
- Commodities: [Wheat (SRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/WHEAT.md), [Wheat (HRW)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/KWHEAT.md)

## Why it matters

A sharp drop in major exporter supplies, led by US hard red winter wheat, tightens the global wheat balance and supports prices. Lower ending stocks raise the price outlook for feed-grade wheat substitutes.

## Read by commodity

- WHEAT: bullish ▲
- KWHEAT: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| WHEAT | 2023-05-15 | [USDA sees 26pc drop in Australia's new-crop wheat - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/35906-usda-sees-26pc-drop-in-australia-s-new-crop-wheat-grain-central.md) | -1.6% | -7.1% |
| WHEAT | 2017-04-25 | [FAS USDA forecasts sharp decline of the wheat and barley crops in Australia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71463-fas-usda-forecasts-sharp-decline-of-the-wheat-and-barley-crops-in-australia.md) | +3.6% | +2.1% |
| WHEAT | 2026-05-20 | [Global Wheat Outlook & WASDE Balance Sheet](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19239-global-wheat-outlook-and-wasde-balance-sheet.md) | -1.5% | -1.6% |
| WHEAT | 2017-04-24 | [Australian 2017 wheat crop forecast to reach 24 million tonnes: USDA report - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/71469-australian-2017-wheat-crop-forecast-to-reach-24-million-tonnes-usda-report.md) | +2.4% | +1.0% |
| WHEAT | 2021-08-17 | [USDA slashes global wheat production - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45538-usda-slashes-global-wheat-production-grain-central.md) | +0.1% | +3.4% |
| KWHEAT | 2023-04-12 | [USDA Reports Confirm the Tight U.S. Wheat Balance Sheet](https://feedsoft.ai/events/36446-usda-reports-confirm-the-tight-u-s-wheat-balance-sheet.md) | +1.5% | +4.4% |
| KWHEAT | 2026-05-20 | [Global Wheat Outlook & WASDE Balance Sheet](https://feedsoft.ai/events/19239-global-wheat-outlook-and-wasde-balance-sheet.md) | -4.8% | -7.3% |
| KWHEAT | 2021-08-17 | [USDA slashes global wheat production - Grain Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/45538-usda-slashes-global-wheat-production-grain-central.md) | -4.4% | -6.8% |

## Sources

- grainbrokers.com.au: https://www.grainbrokers.com.au/weekly-commentary/usda-releases-first-cut-of-the-2026-27-global-wheat-balance-sheet/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.