Argentine export commitments of 2003/04 wheat totalled 8.76 million tonnes by November 19, up from 8.64 million tonnes a week before, the local agriculture department said on Monday. By the same date last year, Argentina had sold 6.125 million tonnes of the grain. Argentina reported sales last week of 270,000 tonnes of wheat each to Brazil and to unspecified destinations, 130,000 tonnes to South Africa, 40,000 tonnes to Uruguay, 25,000 tonnes to Croatia and 20,000 tonnes apiece to Kenya and Morocco.
At the same time, Argentina cut its estimate of sales to Egypt by 300,000 tonnes, to Sri Lanka by 280,000 tonnes and to Yemen by 75,000 tonnes.
The government's figures refer to wheat seeded starting in May 2003 and harvested through to January 2004. The US Department of Agriculture forecasts Argentina's 2003/04 wheat exports at 8.7 million tonnes.