March 12, 2008

Australian grain exporters expect more containerized and value-added shipments

The South Australian grain industry anticipates that in the next two years, there would be a rapid increase in the shipments of containerized and value-added products.

Australian exporters see the heavy demand for bulk freight ships advantageous to containerized grain as it is a cheaper option.

Balco Group managing director, Malcolm May, said his company expects to pack three times more grain in containers for export this year.

Balco Grain Services stored 18,000 tonnes of grain and packed 57,000 tonnes of grain for export last year.

In January, the Export Wheat Commission reported that exports of specialty wheat rose by more than sevenfold in the final four months of 2007 compared with 2006 as the wheat export market was freed up.