The US is still the top wheat exporter despite strong competition from rival countries, according to the US Wheat Associates (USW) on Thursday (May 28).

Buyers have continued to import more wheat from the US than from other countries, USW said.

US export sales totalled 26.4 million tonnes so far, on down slightly from last year but up 11 percent from 2006-07, and on par with the five-year average.

Year-to-date hard red winter sales were 11.6 million tonnes, above the five-year average of 11.2 million tonnes, said the USW. The sales were spurred by Brazil who had turned to US stocks due to drought and export restrictions in key supplier Argentina.

Iran experienced severe drought and purchased 1.5 million tonnes, their first purchase of US wheat in more than 20 years. Nigeria and Israel also bought three-percent and nine-percent, respectively, more hard red wheat from the US compared to the previous year.

Soft red winter sales also outperformed the five-year average by 32 percent, thanks again to Brazil. Sales to South America jumped 54 percent on-year, up 14 percent to the Mexican/Caribbean/Central American region, and up 17 percent to North Asia. Exports to Egypt, however, fell 36 percent or 1.1 million tonnes, mainly due to increased competition from cheaper Black Sea region supplies.

White wheat sales totalled 3.8 million tonnes, slightly above the USDA projection of 3.5 million tonnes for 2008-09, USW said. White wheat sales to Sri Lanka and Thailand increased significantly, while Nigeria purchased hard white wheat for the first time.