Viterra adapts to provide more efficient supply chain

Viterra is making changes to its site footprint ahead of the 2020/21 harvest as the company continues its focus on best meeting the needs of its grower and buyer customers and ensuring South Australian grain is competitive in international and domestic markets.

Viterra Operations Manager Michael Hill says the company is responding to the changing needs and delivery patterns of growers and adapting to the evolving environment for South Australia’s grain industry.

“We are focused on providing customers with the most efficient, cost effective and sustainable supply chain and delivering value through the services we provide,” Michael says.

“Last year, we provided nearly $10 million in additional value directly to growers through dynamic binning, and reduced freight rates, storage and handling fees and warehousing fees.

“We intend to open 55 sites for the coming harvest. These sites have previously taken 97 per cent of total receivals and have the capacity to manage all grower deliveries.

“There are 12 sites that will not open this year and will not play a future role in our network. These are difficult decisions and where this has occurred we are advising growers of delivery options for the 2020/21 harvest.

“Growers are directing the majority of their deliveries to Viterra’s larger sites where we can provide more segregation options, faster elevation capacity, quicker turnaround times, longer opening hours and the ability to handle all truck configurations.

“These sites are more efficient on receival and outturn. We can provide a higher level of service and greater flexibility, which in turn provides value and certainty to growers.

“We are communicating these changes directly to growers and buyers in advance to allow them to plan their harvest operations. Our full preliminary segregation plan for the 2020/21 harvest is available on our website.”

Viterra will have 9.8 million tonnes of storage capacity available and will continue to provide segregations for all the major crops grown in South Australia.

Michael says Viterra is taking a long-term approach to ensure it can continue to provide a high level of service to growers and attract buyers to purchase South Australian grain.

“We have invested around $200 million at our sites in the last five years. We will continue to invest in our people, infrastructure and services to provide the greatest value to our grower and buyer customers,” Michael says.

Sites planned for opening this harvest:

Sites not opening this harvest:

More information can be found on Viterra’s preliminary segregation plan page on the website.