Grain exports off to a flying start

More than one third of expected wheat exports for the whole season left the UK in July and August alone, says the HGCA, confirming the swift start of this season’s export trade.

The latest trade data from DEFRA put UK August wheat exports at 202,000t, which when July’s total is added means that 468,000t was shipped in just two months, mainly to EU destinations.

This is almost 200,000t higher than the level seen in the same period last year. A hefty discount to French wheat combined with good quality has made UK wheat very competitive.

Barley exports at 170,000t to the end of August are well down on last year, but so is availability. The HGCA’s early balance sheet recently estimated exports for the whole season at 709,000t.