Viterra has hit a major milestone loading five million tonnes of South Australian growers’ grain onto vessels bound for international markets since November.
Shipping from Thevenard and Port Lincoln in Viterra’s Western region and the Outer Harbor and Inner Harbour ports in the Eastern region have now surpassed two million tonnes each, with one million tonnes of local growers’ grain loaded onto vessels at Wallaroo and Port Giles in the Central region.
The achievement comes off the back of a record-breaking harvest which has seen growers deliver close to nine million tonnes into the Viterra network to date, the second largest harvest on record for the agricultural network.
Viterra Chief Operations Officer, James Murray paid credit to Viterra’s employees and logistics providers for their role in moving the bumper crop to markets around the world.
“Milestones such as this would not be possible without the dedication of our employees who are working hard to safely and efficiently move grain throughout our supply chain to meet the needs of our buyer customers,” James says.
“Our truck and logistics providers also play an essential role in our shipping programme. With their support, we have moved over three million tonnes from upcountry sites in the Viterra network to our six ports since the start of the season.”
Viterra has shipped to 33 countries this season including Indonesia, China and Saudi Arabia, and a return customer from Africa.
“We have a buyer from Mauritius who had been purchasing European origin wheat and has returned to buying South Australian grain after back-to-back record wheat crops,” James says.
“Viterra is maintaining market access for South Australian grain through our strong relationships with international end use customers and our quality focus and we are always working to expand global export destinations for our grower customers’ grain.”
James says Viterra recently opened applications for its export customers to book short-term shipping capacity for the 2023/24 harvest, with great take-up.
“Exporters have booked almost 1.2 million tonnes of extra capacity for the upcoming season. The response to our latest shipping capacity offer has been excellent. It is extremely positive and indicates the high demand for South Australian grain from the Viterra network,” James says.
Prior to the 2022/23 harvest, Viterra released long-term shipping capacity which saw 27 million tonnes requested over five years by exporters, which included five million tonnes for the 2023/24 harvest.
“Having over six million tonnes of shipping capacity already booked heading into the new season gives confidence and reassurance to South Australian growers that exporters are ready to buy the grain they deliver into the Viterra network.”
In March, Viterra achieved their biggest ever month of shipping, loading over 990,000 tonnes of grain onto vessels across its six South Australian port terminals on behalf of export customers.
Employees at our Port Lincoln, Port Giles and Outer Harbor port terminals (L-R) celebrating shipping five million tonnes of growers' grain.
