BY RILEY TAYLOR AND BELLA MIDDLETON
The first shipment of the New South Wales winter wheat harvest will leave Port of Newcastle for Vietnam on Monday, the 23rd.
The shipment marks the first major export volume of wheat since 2018 due to prolonged drought in New South Wales.
This year has brought record production in NEW SOUTH WALES and is on track to challenge long-term records.
After two days loading at the Newcastle Agri Terminal, the ship departs for Vietnam as the first of what could be up to 60 ships carrying wheat to the global market.
“Grain has long been a regular commodity moving through the port – it is another example of the port, coupled with enviable rail and road connections, enabling NSW importers and exporters to competitively access international markets,” Port of Newcastle Senior Manager Business Development Matt Swan said.
National Agri Terminal Executive Director Jock Carter says the size of trains delivering wheat to the facility has increased by one third since 2017.
"Multiple trains, some carrying up to 4,000 tonnes of wheat, are arriving throughout the week as growers look to get their product to market earlier than previous years," Mr Carter said.
"The port is unique on the East Coast - whether for grain or many other commodities - in its tremendous capacity for more ships and receiving the long trains needed to keep supply chain costs down and make growers more competitive," Mr Carter said.
Stuart Tighe, CEO of Boolah, says while domestic consumption would take much of the harvest, there was a strong interest on the global market for grain from North West NSW, Australia's most productive food supplier.
