Cereal stocks

This is the estimated volume of cereal stocks held by merchants, ports and co-ops (MPC) in the UK at the end of February and June each year. The level of stocks held in the UK is a key factor for the market in determining price trends. This information is used to produce the UK cereals supply and demand estimates.

Table 1. Estimated cereal stocks held by MPCs in the UK (thousand tonnes)

Source: AHDB

AHDB have recently reviewed this survey and strengthened both our survey coverage and data handling processes, particularly around estimates and identifying duplicate reporting. Following this review, we revisited the June 2024 figures and identified a discrepancy in how the data was handled. To ensure consistency and improve comparability with the June 2025 data, we’ve revised the June 2024 figures. If you have any questions about this dataset, please contact us at cereals.mi@ahdb.org.uk. 

Next update scheduled for May 2026

Information from this cereal stocks surveys, together with animal feed and human and industrial datasets produced by AHDB, are used to underpin the AHDB UK cereals supply and demand estimates. Datasets produced by Defra, the Scottish Government, DAERA and HMRC are also critical in compiling these estimates.

Figures are reported in thousand tonnes. They are provisional and may be subject to revision.

* Includes both home-grown and imported maize.

** Imported barley and oats have been combined due to confidentiality.

"n/a" means not available as there was an insufficient sample size to produce robust figures. It does not mean that no stock was held. Please also note that the end‑of‑February stocks survey was not conducted between February 2016 and February 2018.

Figures includes grain stocks from previous harvests, grain stocks sold on forward contract but not yet delivered, imported grain stocks that have cleared customs procedures and grain stocks awaiting export that have not yet cleared customs procedures.

Figures exclude grain stocks stored on farm if it was grown on that farm. On farm cereal stocks, for England and Wales, are collected by Defra. Similar to this merchants, ports and co-op stocks survey, it is run at the end of February and June each year, with the results published in the spring and summer. 

Figures also exclude any feed wheat warrants (both tendered and non-tendered) registered on the ICE UK feed wheat Softs Deliveries Platform (SDP). 

This dataset was produced by our Data and Analysis Team.

If you need any further help, please email the team at cereals.mi@ahdb.org.uk.

While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.

All intellectual property rights in the information and data on this webpage belong to or are licensed by AHDB. You are authorised to use such information for your internal business purposes only and you must not provide this information to any other third parties, including further publication of the information, or for commercial gain in any way whatsoever without the prior written permission of AHDB for each third party disclosure, publication or commercial arrangement. For more information, please see our Terms of Use and Privacy Notice or contact the Director of Corporate Affairs at info@ahdb.org.uk  © Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. All rights reserved.