World Grain - January 2021 - 40

REGIONAL REVIEW: NORTH AMERICA: A MODERN, EFFICIENT MILLING SECTOR

According to the International Grains Council, the
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United States
In its November Wheat Outlook report, the USDA's
Economic Research Service, citing National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data, said that
" after a sharp decline in June following a previous,
months-long increase linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, food use rebounded again July through September. "
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of COVID-19-related orders to shelter in place, retail
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to mid-summer and wheat food data indicated the start
of a decline.
³7KLV VKLIW ZDV H[SHFWHG E\ WKH ZKHDW PLOOLQJ LQdustry to set the tone for future months as foodservice
spending slowly recovered and retail demand for wheat
products remained inhibited, " the USDA said.
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Mills, said, " we know that these tumultuous times have
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are busier than you have ever been, while others have
felt the pain of shifting demand patterns. Regardless
40

Canada
In a Nov. 4 update, the USDA attaché in Canada said
that " when averaged across marketing year 2019-20,
WKH&29,'SDQGHPLFGLGQRWFRQWULEXWHWRDVLJQL¿cant change in the quantity of wheat milled in Canada. "
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WKH¿UVWWKUHHPRQWKVRIWKHSDQGHPLFXQWLOSDQLFEX\ing ceased. "
FAS/Ottawa estimates that short-term heightened purchases of wheat products at grocery stores equated to a
LQFUHDVHLQSHUFDSLWDFRQVXPSWLRQRIÀRXUDQGSURcessed wheat products March through May, the FAS said.
" While data is not yet available, anecdotal evidence
suggests that household consumption settled closer to
SUH&29,'OHYHOVLQWKH¿QDOWZRPRQWKVRIWKHPDUketing year, " the FAS said. " Industry sources have
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mills and large bakeries ran around the clock to meet
increased demand. The three largest milling companies
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and were operating at capacity.
" Sources indicate this large and rapid increase in dePDQGSXWVWUHVVRQÀRXUSURGXFWLRQFDSDFLW\SDFNDJing capacity, transportation capacity, and warehousing
capacity. However, supply chains were maintained, and
grocery shelves continued to be stocked. "
The attaché's annual report on the sector, dated May
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isolation measures introduced to manage the spread of
COVID-19 have driven households to increase purchasHVRISURGXFWVVXFKDVSDVWDVÀRXUFHUHDODQGFUDFNHUV´
" Responding to the initial impact of the pandemic,
consumers began stocking up on shelf-stable foods and,
as the economic impact began to be felt, consumers
shifted buying habits toward cheaper grain products, "
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grocery stores spiked 252%, in value terms, during the
week ending March 21, 2020, compared to the previJanuary 2021 / World Grain / World-Grain.com

Photo courtesy of Grupo Trimex.

of your circumstances, we are here for you as a trusted
partner, working closely together and living by our values of Trust, Serving, Simplicity and Safety. Our vision, mission and values provide a strong foundation to
enable us to serve you best. "
" We have activated several of our contingency plans
to help ensure the safety of our people and products
and provide supply assurance to our customers, " Dye
said. " This includes additional cleaning and sanitation
procedures, eliminating all domestic and international
travel, heightened visitor protocols at our facilities,
implementing social distancing practices and adopting
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World Grain - January 2021

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