April 7, 2014

COFCO eyes ports for grain exports in Western Australia

China' state-owned grain trader COFCO is weighing up options to secure access to the ports handling grain exports on the east coast of Australia.

Western Australia is the biggest state for grain exports in the country and a prime target for global traders.

Already, Bunge is planning to open a new facility at Bunbury Port, while China's Beidahuang Group is scheduling he tconstruction of a similar facility in Albany.

Department of Agriculture and Food WA director-general Rob Delane expects investment in grain to be a focus of WA-China Agribusiness Co-operation Conference in Perth next week.

"There has to be interest in grain, grain dominates WA agriculture," Delane said. "WA and Australian grain is extremely well known in China and demand for grain continues to climb in China."