September 7, 2017
U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) is the industry’s market development organization working in more than 100 countries. Its mission is to “develop, maintain and expand international markets to enhance wheat’s profitability for U.S. wheat producers and its value for their customers.” USW activities are funded by producer checkoff dollars managed by 17 state wheat commissions and USDA Foreign Agricultural Service cost-share programs. For more information, visit www.uswheat.org or contact your state wheat commission.
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U.S. Wheat Sales on Pace to Match 5-Year Average
By Stephanie Bryant-Erdmann, USW Market Analyst
Three months into the 2017/18 marketing year (June to May), total U.S. export sales-to-date of 12.1 million metric tons (MMT) are 2 percent ahead of last year’s pace and in line with the 5-year average pace. Though hard red winter (HRW) and hard red spring (HRS) sales are currently below last year’s levels, both are ahead of the respective 5-year averages. As of Aug. 24, total sales to eight of the top 10 2016/17 U.S. export markets are higher than last year. In addition, the other three U.S. wheat classes are all ahead of last year’s pace. USDA projects 2017/18 exports will fall to 26.5 MMT, which, if realized, would be 8 percent below 2016/17, but 1 percent above the 5-year average pace. Read the full article here.
Rail and Port Operation Recovery in Texas Gulf is Encouraging
By Steve Mercer, USW Vice President of Communications
Officials have classified it as a 1,000-year flood event, unleashed at the center of U.S. HRW wheat’s export industry. Following the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey, some ports are still closed, rail embargos remain in effect and virtually no wheat was inspected for export last week at Texas grain export elevators. Even with the human and industrial costs of the storm, the supply chain is making good progress toward bringing the system fully back on line as soon as possible. Read the full article here.
First Japanese Bakery Industry Trade Team Visits United States
By Amanda J. Spoo, USW Assistant Director of Communications
As consumer demand for higher quality food strengthens around the world, so do the expectations of everyone from those who grow the food to those who prepare it. Japan is one of those markets, with end-use companies demanding very high standards for a wide range of flour products used for hundreds of different food products. To build an understanding of how U.S. wheat compares to other wheat suppliers, USW invited four executives from the four major Japanese baking companies to the United States, Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, 2017. The participants are all members of the Japan Baking Industry Association and were led by USW Country Director Wataru Utsunomiya, from the USW Tokyo Office. Read the full article here.
The 2017 USW Japanese Bakery Industry Trade Team in Portland, Ore., with USW Country Director Wataru Utsunomiya.
The 2017 USW Japanese Bakery Industry Trade Team visits Columbia Grain in Portland, Ore.
U.S. Wheat Organizations Urge Administration Not to Withdraw from KORUS
On Sept. 4, USW and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) strongly urged the Trump Administration not to withdraw from the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). Read the full article here.
Taiwan Goodwill Mission Will Sign Letter of Intent for U.S. Wheat Purchases
As part of a biennial Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to the United States to purchase grains and other agricultural products for the people of Taiwan, representatives from the Taiwan Flour Millers Association (TFMA) will be in Washington, D.C., Sept. 11 to 13, 2017, to sign a letter of intent to purchase U.S. wheat in 2018 and 2019. The TFMA delegates will also visit North Dakota, Montana and Idaho to make similar commitments and to meet with state wheat commission representatives and state government officials. Read the full article here.
USW Past President Alan Tracy at the 2015 Taiwan Goodwill Mission signing ceremony.
USW Past President Alan Tracy at the 2015 Taiwan Goodwill Mission signing ceremony.
Photo Gallery
Dr. Senay Simsek, NDSU, met with the 2017 USW Japanese Bakery Industry Trade Team in Fargo, N.D.
North Dakota Wheat Commission staff and wheat farmers met with the 2017 USW Japanese Bakery Industry Trade Team in Fargo, N.D.
The 2017 USW Japanese Bakery Industry Trade Team visited the Northern Crops Institute in Fargo, N.D.
Source: U.S. Wheat Associates