Italy increases Australian pasta wheat imports
first time, reports IndustrySearch.com.
Italy's biggest miller has bought Australian durum wheat for the first time, reports IndustrySearch.com.
According to the story, it is a major breakthrough for Australia's wheat exporter, AWB, that Grand Molini has bought the famous wheat used in pasta.
AWB's general manager of international sales, Michael Long, said on Monday that the sale followed months of negotiations between the two companies.He said it showed the growing reputation in Italy for Australia's durum wheat.
"AWB regards this as the first step in what we hope will be a long, fruitful relationship with Italy's biggest miller, which imports about 1.5 million tonnes of wheat and durum each year," he said in a statement.
AWB has sold durum to Italian millers for some time, but until now has failed to sway Grand Molini.The company's chief executive officer, Antonio Costato, said the sale should open the door to more business between Grand Molini and Australian durum growers.
"We are sure that the opportunities of business will be many in the future, and I see Australian durum coming into Italy more or less regularly every year," he said in a statement.
"I also see the possibility that milling wheat may be imported as well."
Australian exports around 500,000 tonnes of durum each year, almost exclusively to pasta manufacturers.Monday's announcement follows sales of durum to South Africa and several South American millers.
