World Grain - July 2014 - 12

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ACCC reduces regulation at GrainCorp terminal
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said on June 19 that it has accepted
GrainCorp's application to vary its Port Terminal Services Access
Undertaking at its Newcastle bulk grain facility.
"The ACCC considers that a more competitive market for the export of bulk wheat is in the best interests of farmers. The variation
will provide GrainCorp with greater flexibility to compete against
the two bulk wheat export operations at the Port of Newcastle,"
ACCC Commissioner Cristina Cifuentes said.
GrainCorp applied to the ACCC to vary its undertaking to allow
its Carrington terminal in Newcastle to be subject to less access regulation. GrainCorp submitted that it now faces competition from two
other bulk wheat export facilities, which are not subject to access regulation and argues that it is at a competitive disadvantage as a result.

After examining the port of Newcastle and the surrounding port
zone, the ACCC's view is that there is a sufficient level of competition and capacity, such that the current level of regulation on GrainCorp is no longer required at that port.
"This application has allowed the ACCC to react to the market situation at Newcastle in a flexible way. The reduction in access regulation at GrainCorp's terminal is an appropriate regulatory response to
the more competitive market at Newcastle, and reflects the ACCC's
view that regulation should be fit for purpose," Cifuentes said.
The ACCC received submissions from the NSW Farmers Association and Cooperative Bulk Handling in response to its draft decision. Concerns raised by these parties have been considered in the
decision to accept. GrainCorp's undertaking will continue to apply
the existing level of access obligations at its six other port terminals.

New rice mill planned for Arkansas
PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, U.S. - Optimum Group, through an
Arkansas corporation named Southwind Milling Co. LLC, is building a rice mill at the Port of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, U.S. The mill is expected to be operating by February 2015 and will have a capacity of
12 tph. A total of 25 jobs will be created initially, the company said.
Southwind Milling also plans to expand again at the port in the
near future, doubling the capacity of the mill and building a rice flour

mill. Part of the expansion will include a port dock, which the company said it will use to take advantage of direct barge loading capabilities and inland waterways transportation.
Based in Pine Bluff, Southwind Milling is a member company of the
Optimum Group. Optimum started its farming operations in the Delta
States (Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana) in 2009. Southwind primarily is focused in the industrialization and marketing of rice.

For more information, see Page 114.

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World Grain - July 2014

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