Japanese Millers Team to Visit North Dakota
by ND Wheat Posted on 6/11/2010
The North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) will be hosting a Japanese Millers team that will meet with NDWC staff and researchers at NDSU on June 13-15. The Japanese market is one of the oldest and most reliable for North Dakota hard red spring (HRS) wheat. Japan is the largest buyer of U.S. HRS, and these visits are essential to provide the team with quality updates, outlook for the 2010 crop, breeding efforts and assure them of the reliability of U.S. wheat - especially in the wake of increasing competition.
Japan buys approximately 185 million bushels of wheat annually, primarily from the U.S., Canada and Australia. On average, the U.S. maintains a 60-65 percent market share, supplying Japan with mainly HRS, hard red winter and white wheat. Japan purchased 55.8 million bushels of HRS in marketing year 2009-10, right on with the five-year average. Japan only makes minimal purchases of U.S. durum, but with recent changes to their buying system, potential for future purchases is promising. The visit will provide an opportunity to discuss the improved quality of newer U.S. durum varieties.
Team members represent some of the largest and most influential flour mills in Japan and members are directly involved in production of flour and research and development efforts. The main goal for the team is to increase their knowledge about the U.S. grain system so that they are able to continue to source a safe, clean and reliable wheat supply for their company and customers. The team will meet with researchers at NDSU to cover topics such as biotech wheat, quality comparisons of HRS and durum varieties and wheat breeding efforts. NDWC staff will provide an outlook on the 2010 HRS and durum crop and the team will tour Alton Grain Terminal and Northern Crops Institute.
Japan will likely continue to be a significant customer of U.S. wheat. Per capita wheat consumption is holding steady in Japan at 80 pounds, with the food portion in the 73-75 pound range. According to Erica Olson, NDWC marketing specialist, "continued focus on breeding and quality efforts for both HRS and durum are necessary to maintaining high quality customers like Japan, especially as world wheat competition is increasing. Japanese buyers and millers need to be assured our wheat will continue to meet their demand and trade teams are an essential part of this mission."
The team will be accompanied by Wataru "Charlie" Utsunomiya, Director of the U.S. Wheat Associates Tokyo office. The NDWC and U.S. Wheat Associates works to maintain and improve export market opportunities for North Dakota wheat farmers and producers in 18 other states with support from the farmers themselves through a per bushel checkoff.
For more information, contact us at ndwheat@ndwheat.com
North Dakota Wheat Commission - 2401 46th Avenue SE, Suite 104 – Mandan, ND 58554-4829
Phone: 701-328-5111 - Fax: 701-663-5787
Copyright 2010 North Dakota Wheat Commission
design and programming by inet technologies
