Argentina has effectively extended the closure of its wheat export registry by pushing back the date that new shipments can start to leave the country, traders said on Monday. Argentina is the world's No 4 wheat exporter, but the government has restricted sales abroad to keep prices on staples like bread and flour from rising as part of a broader drive to curb high inflation.
In a note to grains exporters dated Friday, the government said it had extended the freeze on new wheat shipments following talks between farm leaders and President Cristina Fernandez. It said the earliest possible date for new wheat shipments to be loaded had been pushed back to May 5.
A spokeswoman at the Agriculture Secretariat said that meant exporters would be able to register new sales beginning April 21. Under a resolution that reopened the wheat registry in January, export sales permits cannot be issued more than 15 days before the shipment date. The reopening of the wheat export registry is a key demand of farmers who recently staged a three-week strike. The farmers lifted their protest on April 2 for 30 days to negotiate with government officials.