• Analysis and Studies
• Cereals: an overview

A cereal is any grass cultivated for its edible grain which is composed of an endosperm, a germ and a bran. Cereal grain crops are grown in greater quantities and provide more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop and are therefore staple crops. They include rice, wheat, rye, oats, barley, millet and maize. Edible grains from other plant families, such as buckwheat, quinoa, and chia are referred to as pseudo cereals.

Furthermore, in some developing countries cereals constitute a majority of daily sustenance. In developed countries, cereal consumption is moderate and varied but still substantial, primarily in the form of refined and processed grains. Because of the dietary importance of cereals, the cereal trade is often at the heart of the food trade, with many cereals sold as commodities.

Particularly, warm cereals like oatmeal and grits have the longest history, ready-to-eat cold cereals appeared around the late 19^th century and are most often served with diary products, traditionally cow’s milk. In the United States, cereals are often fortified with vitamins but can still lack many of the vitamins needed for a healthy breakfast. A significant proportion of cereals have a high sugar content. These cereals are frequently marketed toward children and often feature a cartoon mascot and may contain a toy or prize.

Finally, consumption of breakfast cereal is under preliminary research for the potential to improve nutrition and affect chronic diseases. Regular breakfast cereal consumption is associated with less risk of being overweight or obese and high-fiber breakfast cereals are associated with a lower risk of diabetes.

A look at the market

In 2018, Cereals and cereal preparations were the world's 43^rd most traded product, with a total trade of $82.2 billion. Between 2017 and 2018 the exports of Cereals and cereal preparations grew by 35.8%, from $60.6B to $82.2B. Trade in Cereals and cereal preparations represent 0.43% of total world trade.

Cereals and cereal preparations are a part of Food and live animals chiefly for food. They include Wheat (including spelt) and meslin, unmilled, Maize (corn), unmilled, Barley, unmilled, Cereals, unmilled (other than wheat, rice, barley and maize), and Cereal preparations and preparations of flour or starch of fruits or vegetables.

Exports 

In 2018 the top exporters of Cereals and cereal preparations  were United States, with a substantial export value of $18.4 billion, Russia which contributed  significantly with exports worth $10.3 billion, Ukraine, whose exports amounted to $7.19 billion, Argentina and France played pivotal roles in the global export market, with exports valued at $7.19B and $7.12B, respectively.

Imports

 In 2018 the top importers of Cereals and cereal preparations were Japan ($4.68B), Mexico ($4.29B), Egypt ($4.08B), China ($3.25B), and Saudi Arabia ($3.13B).

Fonti: 

 https://oec.world/en 

https://data.worldbank.org/

https://www.trademap.org/