Australia remains world's 5th-largest wheat exporter

Australia maintained its position as the fifth-largest global exporter of wheat in 2009-10. Exports to China increased in 2009/10 and imports of Australian wheat by Middle Eastern countries decreased, Wheat Exports Australia said. According to industry regulator Wheat Exports Australia (WEA) the country exported 12.1 million tonnes (mt) of bulk wheat to 36 countries, and 2.5 mt in containers and bags to 46 countries in the Australian marketing year ended Sep. 30, 2010.

The total global wheat trade reached 127 mt in the international trade year that ended June 30, 2010, WEA said. Australia's top six bulk wheat exporters shipped 9.6 mt and accounted for 79 percent of total bulk exports in 2009-10. The top four exporters each shipped in excess of 1.0 mt of bulk wheat, accounting for 64 percent of Australian bulk wheat exports.

Historically, Australia has held a position in the top five major wheat-exporting countries, but in recent years this position has been challenged by growing exports from the former Soviet Union states of Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. About 20 percent of global wheat production is sold internationally, with the trade averaging 115 mt a year in the 10 years ended 2009-10, peaking with growth of 41 percent to 143 mt in 2008-09, WEA reported. Read more...

This blog is written by Martin Little The Global Miller, published and supported by the GFMT Magazine from Perendale Publishers.