Agrigrain’s Narromine and Coonamble sites have frontage to rail lines. Photo: JLL

LOGISTICS provider Qube has bought Agrigrain’s two sites at Narromine and Coonamble in the New South Wales grainbelt to provide the cornerstone to its new Qube Agri division.

The locations have a combined storage capacity of 270,772 tonnes, and were offered for sale through an expressions-of-interest campaign by JLL Agribusiness.

Started in the 1980s at Narromine, west of Dubbo, Agrigrain expanded in 2012 to include a site at Coonamble, 100 kilometres north of Narromine.

While Agrigrain bought grain and pulses from growers, and packed containers for export as well as being a bulk handler for domestic and export markets, Qube Agri will provide services to trading companies doing domestic and export business.

This will involve container packing and bulk handling in silos and bunkers for out-turn to road and rail transport.

Other services offered at the site will continue, and include seed and fertiliser management, and drying, grading and bagging.

Qube Agri will operate under the umbrella of Qube Logistics, and will look to provide expanded services through Qube’s Quattro bulk terminal at Port Kembla, and the Patrick container facility at Port Botany which is part-owned by Qube.

Qube Logistics divisional director John Digney said the acquisition of Agrigrain facilities provided Qube with the ability to deliver integrated logistics services to its regional customers.

“Securing the sites in Narromine and Coonamble is further good news for the Qube Logistics business with the recent signing of bulk train services for regional NSW and port services at Quattro,” Mr Digney said.

The upcoming winter-crop harvest of barley, chickpeas and wheat is expected to see a containerised focus at Narromine, and a bulk focus at Coonamble.

Qube Agri is looking to employ permanent and seasonal staff in coming weeks to handle the harvest, which will start in the Coonamble district next month, and around Narromine in November.

Apart from a transitioning to the Qube Agri banner, no immediate changes are forecast for Agrigrain.

The initial focus of the combined business will be to work with the management team to ensure a high level of service to customers continues, and new opportunities are delivered.

Source: Qube, JLL Agribusiness

Grain Central: Get our free daily cropping news straight to your inbox – Click here