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Wandering wheat finds a buyer
25 Mar 2004
Four shiploads of Australian wheat, rejected by Pakistan for allegedly being contaminated with karnal bunt fungus, have been sold to Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. The wheat has been sold as fit for human consumption and the buyers are satisfied with Australian tests showing it is not contaminated.
The wheat was sold at a price comparable to the $35 million the Pakistani agent paid AWB for it, however the agent said he had lost $US5-10 million in extra freight and demurrage costs and will seek to recoup this. He said the purchasers have very strict standards on food imports and their acceptance of the shipments proved Pakistan's refusal to accept the wheat was completely unjustified.
An AWB spokesman said the company is pleased the stand-off has been resolved, but AWB has ruled out further exports to Pakistan until it improves its testing procedures.
The Australian, 25/3/04, page 29.
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