The Kimba site, which is co-located with Eyre Premium Hay, on South Australia’s upper Eyre Peninsula. (Photo: Barb Woolford)

THE T-Ports bunker site at Kimba on South Australia’s upper Eyre Peninsula has received its first loads of barley.

The first load of barley was delivered by Karawatha Park, followed closely by business partner Wattle Grove Eucalyptus, Buckleboo, on Sunday, October 31.

T-Ports chief executive officer Kieran Carvill said the company was pleased to be able to offer extra storage capacity this year.

“Competition has delivered growers in the T-Ports catchment zone benefits estimated to be more than $30 million over the past two years,” he said.

“From recognising the ongoing strong support and starting construction, to now receive the first loads, is an outstanding achievement.

“We have also received the first loads into our newly-expanded Lock site. With at least five traders now purchasing grain at T-Ports sites, growers are well placed to reap the benefits of increased competition.”

Karawatha Park’s Dion Woolford said the changes due to competition had been significant.

“The change with T-Ports being on the scene is certainly significant; pricing has been heavily influenced by more competition, not just here, but down south and a long way west too,” he said.

Mr Woolford’s father, Bert Woolford, said they were pleased to encourage competition to ensure the longevity of their business.

“You hear of a few dollars being thrown around here and there all of a sudden to attract grain elsewhere, we are just focused on encouraging competition for the longevity of our business and the community benefits it brings,” he said.

“Hopefully all EP growers will get behind T-Ports to ensure these benefits are ongoing. We can see the impact they’ve made to our bottom line and we need it to be long term.”

T-Ports’ Ann-Marie Clements with Wattle Grove Eucalyptus’ Bernie Henderson and Karawatha Park’s David Hannan. (Photo: Barb Woolford)

Mr Carvill said there had been a significant shift in the supply chain landscape for EP growers and particularly in terms of grain marketing options with three of the world’s biggest in ADM, Louis Dreyfus and AWB Cargill, plus Australian Grain Export, Flexi Grain, Market Check and AAAX all participating along with Clear Grain Exchange.

He said the introduction of T-Ports in 2019 had delivered increased prices versus Port Adelaide within the catchment zone, freight savings and grain upgrades through active binning.

“Some traders who had all but pulled out of the EP market have returned since T-Ports has provided alternative market access,” he said.

“T-Ports has brought marketing competition back to the Eyre Peninsula and we want growers to assess the difference this has made to their bottom line.

“We’ve also got more liquidity now in this system and we’ve brought market players back into the EP because of the competition in the supply chain.

“You only have to look at the prices that are being paid to growers on the lower Eyre Peninsula or on the other side of the gulf outside of the T-Ports catchment area to see the big premiums that are now being offered to growers within the catchment.”

Source: T-Ports