THE Western Australian winter crop has produced the goods over the 2018/19 season with the CBH Group taking in almost 16 million tonnes as harvest wraps up across the state.

The majority of WA receival sites are now closed across all zones. Those still open are due to collect the few remaining deliveries for the season over the next couple of weeks.

“After quite a drawn-out harvest which saw several ups and downs, it’s shaping up to be one of our biggest seasons in recent years,” CBH acting general manager operations, Ben Raisbeck, said.

“CBH Operations will now be focused on moving grain from site to port to fulfil the demanding shipping requirements that we have in this early new year,” he said.

Around the zones

Albany

There are around 100,000t still to be received in the Albany zone which will come in over the next few weeks.

Half of the sites across the zone are closed with the remainder to close over the next two weeks.

“We expect that harvest will be completed for all areas over the next two weeks and deliveries from storage into the Terminal will continue for a few weeks after this,” Albany Zone manager, Greg Thornton, said.

Esperance

The Esperance Zone is wrapping up with 71,000t delivered over the week to January 3.

“The zone has now received 2.29 million tonnes, and most sites are now closed or will be closed in the coming days,” Esperance Zone manager, Mick Daw, said.

Geraldton

Geraldton zone has almost completed its harvest with only 36,000t delivered in the period around Christmas and New Year.

“With only a few sites still open for receivals we are all but wrapped up what has been a really successful harvest,” Geraldton Zone manager, Duncan Gray, said.

Kwinana

The Kwinana zone slowed down receiving 220,000t over the Christmas and New Year period.

“The majority of sites are now closed for the season with only a few of the larger sites open to receive the remainder of the crop which we expect to be completed over the next ten days,” Kwinana Zone assistant manager, Allan Walker, said.

Market update

The market remained subdued this week with little international interest as most buyers remained on leave over the Christmas and New Year period.

Grower markets were also relatively subdued with grower selling volumes low as growers took a break over Christmas.

Prices for APW1 wheat were in the A$360s per tonne free in store this week and Australian Hard still remained well into the A$400/t free in store.

The trade anticipates that the hot weather on the east coast will see markets in eastern Australia remain firm, with some interest for the first quarter.

To date the market has seen some 650,000t executed from Western Australia since the beginning of October 2018.

In addition, there is expectations of international buyers to also be back in the market next week as they return from annual vacation.

The barley market continues to be subdued with no strong interest in the market, particularly with malt barley with the premiums being below A$10/t.

Source: CBH

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