Japan still wants our wheat

Japan has declared a strong demand for Western Australian noodle wheat following a shortfall in supply as a result of poor production in recent years.

Picture by Rob Loughman: Consul for the Consulate-General of Japan Etsuko Kobayashi and vice-consul Hiroaki Sato, MAFF grain trade and operation division deputy director Yasuchi Uchikawa, Dr Rob Loughman and DAFWA officers Barry Cox

About 100,000 tonnes of noodle wheat is grown in the Great Southern every year, with a value of about $40 million, which represents about 10 per cent of Australia’s production.

The Department of Agriculture and Food WA, working in conjunction with the Grains Industry Association of WA, has undertaken extensive collaboration with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to restore and maintain confidence that WA growers can meet demand when production returns to normal.

Noodle wheat is used in Japan for the production of high-quality udon noodles, a market traditionally supplied solely by WA and worth $500 million dollars.

Department Grains Industry Genetic and Product Innovation director Robert Loughman said Japan bought wheat for udon noodle production in a blend made up of noodle and Australian premium white wheat.

He said this was preferred by the Japanese milling industry at the historic ratio of 60 per cent noodle and 40 per cent APW.

WA was unable to supply the required quantity and quality to Japan in 2011, largely due to tough seasonal conditions.

The Japanese market agreed to reduce the quality of the blend temporarily in order to meet ongoing supply requirements.

“After the 2010 dry season, Japan accepted shipments with half the normal amount of noodle wheat in the blend, down to 30 per cent, in order to have continuity of supply through 2011,” Dr Loughman said.

“This change in blend affected the quality of the noodles produced in Japan with feedback received from flour millers and consumers in Japan indicating noodle quality had suffered, potentially threatening this long term market.”

With 2011 a better production year, the department and industry partners have worked together with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Japanese Flour Millers Association to ensure the blend returned to 60 per cent noodle wheat.

The Japanese market’s announcement of a return to normal blend ratios with 60 per cent noodle wheat is very positive news for grain growers,” Dr Loughman said.