MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina has record wheat exports

Argentina's wheat exports rose to 8.7 million tons in the 2004-2005 harvest, double the previous harvest, reported the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food ministry.

Sales to North Africa, which totalled 2 million tons, were particularly strong. "Egypt stands out in that region, becoming the main buyer during the last quarter of last year" pointed out an official release.

However Brazil continues as the main buyer of Argentine wheat, despite the fact that it had its own record harvest of 6 million tons.

"So far Brazil has purchased 2.7 million tons, a figure just above the 2.5 million tons for the same period last year, making it again once again Argentina's top wheat client", added the report.

Argentina expects to end the 2004/05 season with a wheat harvest of some 16 million tons, 10% above the previous harvest.

According to official figures, some 10.5 million to 11 million tons of the harvest were available for export, with about 2 million tons still pending sale.

Argentina exported 4.5 million tons of wheat during the 2003-2004 harvest