SOUTH Australian bulk handler Viterra broke its daily record for out-turning grain for export last Monday by loading more than 100,000 tonnes of grain, 11,000t up on the previous record of 89,000t set in April 2013.

Loading grain at a Viterra port. Photo: Viterra

The new record was set by having all six Viterra port terminals loading vessels for only the seventh time since 2009, when its Outer Harbor terminal at Port Adelaide opened.

“We were loading vessels for four different exporters on Monday, including wheat, barley and pulses heading to five different destinations in Asia and the Middle East,” Viterra general manager, Tim Krause, said.

Mr Krause said more than 30 buyers operated through Viterra’s system, which gave growers a range of selling options.

“Each exporter wants a very specific product with very specific quality parameters. This can apply to a vessel, or even each hatch on a vessel, which we can deliver.”

Mr Krause said last Monday’s effort was akin to emptying a grain receival site the size of Arno Bay, Saddleworth or Loxton in one day.

“It is a fantastic effort by our staff to logistically execute this task which includes accumulating the grain, preparing it for export, meeting food safety and quality specifications, moving it to port and loading the vessels efficiently.”

More than 2.39 million tonnes of grain has been exported to 19 different export destinations from Viterra’s ports this season.

Viterra’s port terminals are located at Thevenard, Port Lincoln, Wallaroo, Port Giles, Inner Harbour and Outer Harbor.

South Australia is the only Australian state to have all its bulk grain export terminals owned and operated by the one company.

Source: Viterra