January 26, 2006

Argentina's 2005 wheat exports increase 9.4 percent
 

Argentina exported 10.75 million tonnes of wheat in 2005, according to the latest data from the animal and food health agency, Senasa, which certifies food exports.

That puts wheat exports up 9.4 percent from 9.828 million tonnes in 2004.

Argentina shipped US$1.321 billion worth of wheat in 2005, compared with US$1.35 billion in 2004.

Sales revenue was little changed because of lower wheat prices.

Wheat exports rose mainly because local production was higher. Argentina produced 16 million tonnes of wheat in 2004/05, according to the Agriculture Secretariat. That compares with 14 million tonnes a year earlier.

Exports also rose because Argentina's low-priced wheat helped it to open non-traditional markets such as Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Argentina is the world's fifth-ranked wheat exporter, according to the US Department of Agriculture.