China could become significant durum customer
SASKATOON - China could become the next big market for Canadian durum, says an industry official.
The country recently purchased 26,000 tonnes of Canada Western Amber Durum, which accounted for 57 percent of its current durum needs.
"They plan to bring in way more," said Dean Dias, chief executive officer of Cereals Canada.
That is good news for farmers.
"We all should be excited about it because when China comes into the market for something like this, there is the potential for big growth," he said.
Market development work in China kickstarted in 2003 during a New Crop Trade and Technical
That is when Cereals Canada learned that China was interested in making its own pasta to offset rising imports of the com-
It led to conversations with millers about using quality Canadian durum to make that pasta.
"They were super interested"
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China can become a big buyer of a commodity in a short period of time.
Cereals Canada worked with
COFCO Group, the country's largest food processor, manufacturer and trader, to set up a technical mission to Winnipeg because there were no durum mills in China at that time.
"We brought them here and we showed them exactly how to make durum into semolina and
how to evaluate semolina for pasta products,, said Dias.
China's pasta market is growing by 12 percent per year due to urbanization, busy work schedules and the young generation's love of western-style foods.
"That is substantial growth," he said.
China intends to bring in more durum to feed that demand. The country now has two dedicated durum mills.
Cereals Canada's job is to continue showcasing Canadian durum and explaining to Chinese millers how it outperforms cheaper product from places such as Turkey when it comes to pasta attributes like texture, colour and bite quality.
Dias doesn't think China will ever rival Italy, Morocco and Algeria as one of the top buyers of
Canadian durum, but it could eventually be a Venezuela-type customer that purchases 400,000
That is important because it is uncertain what will happen to the Venezuelan market now that the United States has increased its influence in the country.
When it comes to other types of wheat, there is one region of the world that deserves more market development effort.
"We don't pay enough attention to Latin America, and we need to change that" said Dias.
It is a sizeable and growing market. Peru bought 1.4 million tonnes of Canadian wheat last year, followed by Colombia's 1.2 million tonnes and Mexico's
722,000 tonnes.
Ecuador is an up-and-coming market. Five years ago it was
China recently purchased 26,000 tonnes of Canada
Western Amber
Durum, which accounted for 57 percent of its current durum needs. PHOTO: FILE
The Indonesian Quarantine Authority, a newly minted regulatory body in that country, created a list of pests that it was concerned about. The list contained insects and weeds that affect Canadian wheat.
However, the regulators were unaware of Canada's systems-based approach to handling pests, which includes running freezing air through bins and cleaning the grain on farm, at the local elevator and at port position.
Cereals Canada worked with its miller customers in Indonesia to identify key officials with the Indonesian Quarantine Authority and to bring them to Canada for a firsthand look at how Canada's system works.
"Needless to say, they went back and they agreed with our systems-based approach and
purchasing an average of
wheat continues to move into
400,000 to 500,000 tonnes of the Indonesia, which is great," said crop, but these days it is closer Dias.
to 700,000 tonnes.
Bangladesh is another key
Bakers in that country are
market where there is a threat.
demanding high-protein, high-
The country recently signed a
quality wheat, and they under-
memorandum of understand-
stand what Canada has to offer.
ing with the U.S. pledging
"There are a couple of mills in
to import 700,000 tonnes of
Ecuador that actually have a bag
U.S. wheat per year over the
of flour that says it is made with next five vears.
Canadian wheat," said Dias.
Dias said that is a major con-
"You can't beat that"
cern because the country typi-
Dias is hoping Ecuador turns
cally does not buy much U.S.
into a 700,000 to 900,000 tonne
wheat.
market.
However, for every market
Bangladesh has been the second biggest buyer of Cana-
opportunity there is a threat.
dian wheat through the first four
There was recently a phytos-
months of the 2025-26 campaign,
anitary concern with Indonesia,
buying 902,800 tonnes of the
a country that vies with China
crop. China is the only country
every year as the top buver of that has bought more during that
Canadian wheat. It bought 2.4 stretch with 1.12 million tonnes
million tonnes last year.
in purchases.
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