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Colorado welcomes Brazilian wheat trade teamColorado A trade team of wheat importers from Brazil arrived in Colorado June 23 to meet with the Vice President of the international banking group of CoBank and observe production of various bread products using Colorado hard red winter wheat at Gerards Bakery in Longmont. On June 24 they continued their visit with a tour of the ConAgra Flour Milling Company in Commerce City, Cooksey Farms near Roggen, and the Roggen Farmers Elevator Company. "I was impressed with the quality of the hard white winter wheat from Colorado," said Sergio Chesini, Supply Director of Predileto Alimentos. "When I return to Brazil I will continue to press for an open market so that we can import your hard white winter wheat." The Brazilian importers were also impressed with the low dockage and low moisture content of Colorado wheat. They all expressed surprise at how little moisture Colorado wheat farmers receive and yet are still able to grow wheat in such a dry climate. "It is important for us to get to know the farmers and how they think," Edson Csipai, Supply Wheat Manager for Bunge Alimenos said. The fact finding tour was sponsored by U.S. Wheat Associates, of which CWAC is a member, and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Brazil is one of the world's five leading wheat importers. Over the last five years, Brazilian annual wheat imports averaged 6.4 million metric tons (MMT) or 235 million bushels, accounting for 65 percent of the total domestic consumption. Normally 96 percent of Brazil's wheat is purchased from Argentina under the Mercosur Agreement (a trade agreement between the South American countries); however, during the recently completed 2007/2008 marketing year that ended on May 31, Brazil was the eighteenth largest buyer of U.S. wheat with imports of 501,400 metric tons (18.4 million bushels) and it is expected that the 2008-2009 marketing year will be also a good year for U.S. wheat in Brazil. During November 2007, the Argentine government decided to close wheat exports in order to manage domestic inflation. In response to the Argentine decision, in February 2008 the Brazilian government eliminated the 10 percent import tax for countries not included in the Mercosur trade agreement. The resolution taken by the International Trade Council is for up to 1 MMT (36.7 million bushels) and/or until June 30. Of this one million MT, 100,000 MT (3.7 million bushels) are designated for small importers, and 900,000 MT (33 million bushels) is available based on historical wheat imports. It is expected that the limit date will be extended until July/August or until Brazilian domestic harvest starts at the end of August, giving importers more options to purchase wheat from the U.S. Durum wheat and hard white wheat cannot be exported to Brazil because of sanitary and phytosanitary issues. Wheat exports from the U.S. to Brazil are limited to U.S gulf ports, Mississippi ports, North Atlantic and the Great Lakes ports. The trade team consisted of Antonio Bolzani, Supply Manager, M. Dias Branco S.A.; Sergio Chesini, Supply Director, Predileto Alimentos S.A.; Edson Csipai, Supply Wheat Manager, Bunge Alimentos S.A.; Irineu Pedrollo, Supply Manager, J. Macedo S.A., and Miguel Galdos-Tanguis, Assistant Regional Director, USWA. They were joined on the tour by CWAC Board members Cary Wickstrom of Orchard and Tom Niera of Bennett. ====Cutlines for photos:===== Photo 1: (brazilian.trade.team.group.jpg) The Brazilian wheat trade team visits Cooksey Farms near Roggen. From left to right: Cary Wickstrom, Orchard, Edson Csipai, Tom Neira, Bennett, Antonio Bolzani, Jerry Cooksey, Roggen, Vernon Cooksey, Roggen, Irineu Pedrollo, Jim Cooksey, Roggen, Miguel Galdos-Tanguis, and Sergio Chesini. Photo 2: (brazilian.trade.team.Conagra.jpg) Members of the Brazilian wheat trade team and a ConAgra employee examine a flour bag used in the automated process at the ConAgra Flour Mill in Commerce City. 7/7/08 Date: 6/30/08 Advertisement
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