Australia Boosts Projected Pool Returns

SYDNEY - Dec 10/07 - SNS -- The Australian wheat marketing board, AWB Ltd. boosted Estimated Pool Returns (EPRs) for most grades delivered under its Number and 2 2007-08 national pools following a depreciation of the Australian dollar and continued strengthening of international wheat markets over the past week.

The increase brings the 2007-08 EPR for benchmark APW grade for the AWB Number 1 National Pool to $418 per metric ton (MT) and for the Number 2 National Pool to $396 MT. Feed and Durum EPRs remain unchanged. There have been no changes to the 2006-07 National Pool EPRs.

AWB General Manager National Pool, David Johnson, said we are continuing to close port zones across the Australian wheat belt to protect wheat growers who have committed and delivered to the 2007-08 Number 1 National Pool.

"As harvest is now drawing to a completion in a number of areas across Australia's wheat belt we will close the South Australian Thevenard port zone and the Western Australian Geraldton port zone for deliveries to the 2007-08 Number 1 National Pool from 5pm (AEDT) today," Johnson said.

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