Transportation and Telecommunication

This section is being updated. For more information go to the International Grains Council website. Grains such as wheat, millet, maize, rye and rice have been transported by sea, especially in the Mediterranean since ancient times, and nowadays, are generally carried in bulk around the world. UNCTAD (2001) reported that world grain trade reached 225 million tons in 2000, which showed an increase of 2.3 per cent from 1999. Grain exports in 2000 from the five largest exporters were the following: United States (86 million tons), Australia (20.8 million tons), Argentina (19.3 million tons), European Union (29.6 million tons) and Canada (22.2 millions). In terms of wheat, total wheat trade in 1999-2000 according to the International Grains Council (IGC) amounted to 109 million metric tons, with Argentina, Australia, Canada, European Union and the United States as the five biggest exporters.

 

Imports of grains had increased in the Middle East and North Africa due to the scant crop harvests attributed to drought. In terms of forecast, the IGC noted that for the season 2000/2001, there would be a shortfall of grains production compared to consumption and this would lead to a fall in world carryover stocks for the third consecutive season. Wheat production, for example, during the 1998/1999 and 199/2000 seasons was 586 and 584 million tons, respectively. The production forecast for 2000/2001 was 573 million tons whereas consumption for the three seasons was placed at 588, 590 and 595 million tons, respectively.

 

The global rice trade was estimated at 22.4 million tons in 2000. For 2001, the forecast is about 3.5% more than 2000 but 0.8 million tons less than expected on account of the dramatic low prices experienced by farmers in 2000 as well as the possibility of raising tariff by several major importers. Among the chief reasons for poor rice harvest are drought and flood but for 2000, commercial rice imports by developing countries dropped by 10% on account of satisfactory crop harvest over the last two seasons.