Australia to import wheat first in twelve years

Australia will import its first shipment of wheat in more than a decade as drought across the country’s east coast wilts supply in the world’s fourth largest exporter of the staple grain, Reuters inform.

“The shipment is expected to arrive in Australia in the next six to eight weeks,” Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources said in a statement on its website.

Australia last imported wheat in 2007 when an El Nino weather event led to a severe drought and cut production to around half of the typical annual output.

"Farmers are now sowing crops, but with little rains, many have been forced to delay planting or choose to sow into dry soils - exposing them to crop failures," the message says.

Australia’s traditional customers have already turned to the Black Sea region to secure supplies.

ABARES experts in their latest report reduced the forecast for wheat production in Australia by 22 per cent to 16.95 million tons, 19.12 million tons lower than the previous estimate and possibly the minimum indicator of the bulk grain yield since 2008 (13.6 million tons).

The infographic guide Agribusiness of Ukraine 2017/18 is available by the link.