The Queen Harmony loaded 22,000t of APW1 wheat at Viterra’s terminal in Thevenard, SA, last month with Advantage Grain’s first cargo. Photo: Advantage Grain

AUSTRALIAN company Advantage Grain has announced its entrance into the export market, with the company’s first wheat vessel loaded and on its way to the Middle East.

The Queen Harmony set sail from South Australia’s Thevenard Port on May 16 filled with 22,000 tonnes of APW1 quality wheat.

Traditionally a domestic market player, Advantage Grain seized the opportunity to deliver improved returns to its pool customers via the export market this season, with the assistance of export marketing and logistics specialist Basis Commodities.

Advantage Grain general manager Chris Nikolaou said the company’s foray into the export market marks a significant milestone for the company.

“Advantage Grain has experienced positive growth over the past three years, and we are extremely pleased to have the capacity to generate more value for growers when opportunities such as these arise,” Mr Nikolaou said.

“Generating value for our customers is at the core of everything we do, and adding export to our tool belt when the numbers add up assists us to provide that value.

“Moving forward, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is likely to continue to contribute volatility to global grain markets.

“In this regard, Advantage will continue to pursue the best outcomes for our pool growers in either the domestic or export markets; but only when we are comfortable the risk profile is low.

“Our commitment to low-risk selling by averaging out over the course of the season will always be the focus.

Mr Nikolaou said Advantage Grain was grateful to the growers who pool grain with the business, and looked forward to working “for them and with them” in coming seasons.

Advantage has been partnering with farmers to market their wheat, barley and canola since 2008, and has delivered more than 4 million tonnes of Australian grain into its annual programs during this time.

Over the years the program has evolved to meet changing farmer and market needs, but its core concept  of reducing risk by selling an equal portion of grain each month over a set time period has remained constant.

Source: Advantage Grain