| ||||
|
|
Wheat export sales provide holiday cheer
U.S. Wheat exports will help make the holiday season merry for American Wheat farmers this year, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture released tidings of joy in their latest weekly export sales report. As of Dec. 11, commercial sales of U.S. Wheat to known destinations are up 25 percent over the same time last year. If sales to unknown destinations are included, commercial export sales of Wheat are 34 percent more than last year.
"America's Wheat farmers deserve good news, and U.S. Wheat Associates is proud to deliver that news this holiday season," said Alan Tracy, president of the Wheat industry's export market development organization. "We're facing strong competition in several markets but we're holding our own, and better. We've got a good product, market fundamentals are on our side, and buyers are returning to U.S. wheat." Tracy indicated that reports from the 15 USW overseas markets indicate that sales will continue strong in 2004.
The good news for the Wheat industry comes from all over the globe. U.S. Wheat sales to Europe are 83 percent higher than the same time last year. Sales to Africa are double what they were at this point in 2002, with major increases to Egypt and other North African destinations. Nigeria, a large U.S. customer, has purchased 23 percent more so far this year. Sales to China are seven times higher than last year, and Taiwan and Japan have bought more this year as well. Increases are registered in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen. Even in the western hemisphere, with Canadian Wheat coming back from a devastating year, U.S. Wheat sales are holding steady. There are major increases in sales to Cuba, Chile, Peru and Venezuela. Sales to Mexico, one of our largest customers, are also above last year's pace.
The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service tallies export sales by five Wheat classes, and sales have increased in four of the five classes. Total commercial sales of hard red winter wheat, grown primarily in the central plains, are up 71 percent over last year, 9.6 million metric tons compared to 5.6 million metric tons at the same time last year. Soft red winter wheat, primarily grown east of the Mississippi River, is experiencing 29 percent growth in sales so far this year, 2.8 million metric tons compared to 2.15 million metric tons at this point in 2002. Total commercial sales of white wheat, grown mainly in the Pacific Northwest, are up 28 percent, 3.45 million metric tons compared to 2.68 million metric tons last year. Sales of durum, the product of North Dakota and Montana, are up 34 percent, 855,700 metric tons currently compared to 640,600 metric tons at this same time last year. The only Wheat class selling slower than last year is hard red spring wheat, grown primarily in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana, and sales are only down about 1 percent, from 5.17 million metric tons last year to 5.09 million metric tons so far this year.
Date: 1/15/04
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com
 
| |||||||||||||||||||||
