Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters — Chinese state-run food group COFCO Group said it had imported Canadian durum wheat for the first time for processing into flour, a departure from China’s usual practice of importing finished durum flour or pasta. “This direct import of durum wheat has enriched the structure of China’s imported wheat varieties, facilitated the […] Read more
China’s COFCO says it imported Canadian durum for first time
China's imports usually involve pasta or durum flour instead
CBOT weekly outlook: Wheat futures underpinned for now
However, traders still watching headlines
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — U.S. wheat futures have climbed higher over the past week, with the largest gains in Chicago Board of Trade soft wheat, as global uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic provided some support. However, that uncertainty could also makes predicting market trends rather difficult, according to an analyst. “All of my comments come with a […] Read more
Solid demand, logistics underpin durum bids
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Durum bids in Western Canada have found some support from solid demand and logistical issues elsewhere in the world. Anecdotal reports of pasta hoarding, due to COVID-19 coronavirus concerns, were also somewhat supportive. Cash durum bids in Saskatchewan are currently in the $7.50-$8 per bushel range, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. That […] Read more
Barilla to buy second-largest Italian pasta plant
Reading Time: < 1 minute Milan | Reuters — Food group Barilla said on Wednesday it had presented an offer to buy the second-largest pasta plant in Italy from domestic rival Pasta Zara to boost its production capacity. Family-owned Pasta Zara has started court proceedings to get creditor protection after its debt spiralled out of control. The factory, which is […] Read more
Durum markets rattled as harvest set to start
Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — With the durum wheat harvest rapidly approaching in Western Canada, many analysts wonder how the dry conditions and extreme heat will affect yields. Yet there is one aspect about this year’s crop they already know. Increased seeded acreage this spring, and market access problems hindering longer-term durum sales, mean farmers might want […] Read more
Canada to probe claims of Turkish pasta dumping
Reading Time: 2 minutes Three Canadian makers of dry wheat pasta have got their wish for a probe into whether competing products from Turkey are being dumped into the Canadian market. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced Tuesday it has launched an investigation into whether certain pasta products originating in or exported from Turkey are being sold at […] Read more
CPSR wheat popular for pasta and breads in Latin America
Maintaining an ongoing relationship with Latin American customers is important as competitor wheats such as those from the U.S. and Black Sea region are slowly making inroads
Reading Time: 3 minutes For Latin Americans, Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR) wheat is a top choice for the production of pasta and for flour blending in commercial bread baking. José Fernando Chacón Valencia, production and project manager for Harinera del Valle, a major milling and food processing company in Colombia, says that in the past several years his […] Read more
High-quality durum still top of mind for buyers
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | CNS Canada — Following two years of varying qualities for Canadian durum, the world still wants higher-quality grain, according to Rhyl Doyle. “The world still wants (No. 1) CWAD and last year although the profile was mostly (No. 3) CWAD, they still wanted 1 CWAD. So there are a spectrum of markets for […] Read more
In North Africa, it’s all about the colour
The bright yellow colour of Canadian durum gives it an advantage in this competitive market
Reading Time: 2 minutes For North African customers of Canadian durum, yellow is more than just the colour of the food products processed from it. Millers and processors view the bright yellow that Canadian Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheat provides as a crucial trait for their pasta and couscous quality. Couscous is a popular traditional dish in the region, […] Read more
Italy demands origin labels for pasta, rice
Reading Time: 2 minutes Rome | Reuters — All packets of pasta and rice sold in Italy will have to include labels of origin showing where the produce was grown, the government ruled on Thursday, a move aimed at protecting local farmers. The agriculture and industry ministers signed a decree ordering the new labelling policy, saying it would run […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
