November 26, 2004

EU Deals Out 129,000 MT Soft Wheat Export Licenses in Week to Nov 24

The European Commission has issued export licenses for 129,000 metric tons of soft wheat through its daily "Common Right" or standing refund export license system in the week to Nov. 24, according to official Commission figures on Thursday.

This means the total number of licenses for wheat for the 2004-05 marketing year, excluding those issued for wheat flour, now stands at 4.460 million tons.

The licenses were all awarded at zero value and are valid for to up to five months.

For durum wheat, the Commission awarded licenses for the export of 20,000 tons, bringing the total so far to 479,000 tons, while 170,000 tons of export licenses were awarded for barley, with a total of 807,000 tons.

For corn, the Commission gave no licenses, keeping the total at 89,000 tons, while it gave licenses for 5,000 tons of rye, for a total of 309,000 tons of rye, and 36,000 tons of oats, for a total of 139,000 tons.

Since the Commission took the decision on July 31, 2003, to suspend its weekly export tender until further notice, traders can currently obtain new export licenses only by applying through the daily system.