Viterra last week loaded its first new-crop vessel for Inner Harbour and its first load of canola from any port for the current season. Photo: Viterra

RECEIVALS to Viterra’s network ramped up last week, with 1.35 million tonnes (Mt) sites delivered by growers making the most of the warmer weather and lifting total intake for the harvest to December 4 to 2.56Mt.

In its latest weekly harvest report, the South Australian-based bulk handler said opening hours have been extended to support growers as they delivered more grain last week than the previous seven weeks combined.

Friday was again the busiest day, with 226,000t received into the network.

Viterra said it either started or finished loading six vessels with export cargo during the week to December 4, including first vessels for the season at its Port Lincoln, Wallaroo and Inner Harbour terminals.

The first vessel from Inner Harbour was also Viterra’s first shipment of new-season canola.

Table 1: Receivals into Viterra’s network for the 2022-23 harvest. Source: Viterra

Viterra Western region operations manager Nick Pratt said harvest was well under way on the Eyre Peninsula.

“Our sites were all busy due to the good weather and our Thevenard, Wudinna and Lock sites broke their daily receival records last week,” Mr Pratt said.

Viterra Central region operations manager Jack Tansley said deliveries into the region were starting to build, but were not yet at their peak.

“We are seeing increased deliveries into our Yorke Peninsula sites and Snowtown, Bowmans, Booleroo Centre, Gladstone and Crystal Brook as more growers, particularly those in the Upper North, start harvesting,” Mr Tansley said.

“We’re continuously outturning grain from our sites to port and for domestic markets, with particularly solid rail out of Bowmans and Snowtown.

“This is helping move grain to market and also make room at sites for more receivals.”

Viterra Eastern region operations manager Andrew Cannon said deliveries of more commodities were increasing into its sites.

“Though barley continues to be the main commodity growers have been delivering, we are now seeing good volumes of canola across the region, and increasing wheat deliveries, particularly in the Mallee,” Mr Cannon said.

Source: Viterra