August 4, 2006

Wheat Australia beings 350,000 tonne wheat shipment to Iraq

Wheat Australia Ltd is continuing a shipping programme to Iraq, with a cargo of more than 23,000 tonnes scheduled for loading next week, Perry Gunner, chairman of ABB Grain Ltd said Friday (Aug 4).

ABB Grain is one of three partners in Wheat Australia awarded a 350,000-tonne supply contract worth more than A$90 million (US$68.4 million) earlier this year by the Grain Board of Iraq.

The other two partners in Wheat Australia are GrainCorp Ltd and unlisted Cooperative Bulk Handling Ltd.

Wheat Australia was formed to continue trade with Iraq, after the country suspended commercial dealings in February with monopoly wheat exporter AWB Ltd.

The cargo to be loaded would be the first shipment of South Australian wheat destined for Iraq since September 2004, Gunner said, adding that he is confident this would be the first of many future shipments.