December 17, 2004

EU Gives 209,000 Tons Soft Wheat Export Licenses in Week to Dec 15

The European Commission has issued export licenses for 209,000 metric tons of soft wheat through its daily "Common Right" or standing refund export license system in the week to Dec. 15, according to French grain intervention board ONIC 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 4.999 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 4,000 tons, bringing the total so far to 546,000 tons, while 19,000 tons of export licenses were awarded for barley, for a total of 993,000 tons

Licenses for the export of 23,000 tons of oats were awarded for a total of 166,000 tons, and 5,000 tons of rye to 385,000 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.