Wheat export deregulation won’t pose `huge problems’

<p>Deregulation of the wheat industry next month looks set to open the doors to applications to sell 4m tonnes of wheat overseas, according to the industry’s regulatory body.</p> <p>Under the Federal Government’s review of the wheat export system, bagged and container wheat exports are being opened up to competition, with legislation formalising the changes due before Parliament this week.</p> <p>The Wheat Export Authority’ said packers and traders would have to be accredited before they could export grain, but the plan would be to &#8220piggyback&#8221 on a scheme that it already has in place.</p> <p>Peter Woods, the acting chief executive of the authority, did not anticipate &#8220huge problems&#8221 from the new arrangement.</p> <p>"The volume is largely going to depend on the crop and, as we know, it’s starting to turn a little dry again so the crop volume is reducing and the number of empty containers available but it could be 3m or 4m tonnes," he said.</p> <p>Meanwhile, AWB this week unveiled "new features" for the 2007&#4708 pool, most of which appear designed to ensure it remained a competitive buyer if bulk export licences were granted to other traders.</p> <p>They include a simple management fee, a $10-per-tonne incentive for growers who contract early to deliver to AWB, and a warning that its pools could close earlier than usual to protect growers who have already delivered grain.</p> <br />