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Cereals & Grains
Sell offers and buy requests for Cereals & Grains, posted by companies and agreed directly between them.
About Cereals & Grains trade
Cereals and grains are the base of the world food and feed trade: wheat, barley, corn (maize), rice and similar crops. Buyers include flour millers, feed producers, government agencies and importing traders; sellers are farmers' cooperatives, exporters and large trading houses. Grain is traded in cargoes of thousands of tonnes, and the contract describes the grade, the origin and the harvest year.
Products
Wheat (Milling, Feed and General) · Barley (Feed, Malting and General) · Corn / Maize · Rice
Bulk Cereals & Grains offers: FOB, CFR and CIF terms available
Country guides: Wheat exporters: top countries · Corn exporters: top countries · Rice exporters: top countries
Who trades Cereals & Grains in the world
Looking at the 4 products of this group together, the largest exporting countries in 2024 were United States, India, Ukraine, Russia, and the largest importing countries were China, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines. Open a product to see the figures for that product alone.
| Top exporting countries | Trade value |
|---|---|
| United States | USD 19.8 billion |
| India | USD 11.8 billion |
| Ukraine | USD 10.8 billion |
| Russia | USD 10.2 billion |
| Argentina | USD 10.1 billion |
| Canada | USD 8.4 billion |
| Top importing countries | Trade value |
|---|---|
| China | USD 8.4 billion |
| Egypt | USD 7 billion |
| Indonesia | USD 6 billion |
| Philippines | USD 4.4 billion |
| Vietnam | USD 4.2 billion |
| Italy | USD 4.2 billion |
Source: OEC (BACI/CEPII), 2024. Sums of the main trading countries of each product in the group; by every mode of transport, not only by sea.
How Cereals & Grains is shipped
Grain travels loose in bulk carriers. Smaller lots go on Handysize and Supramax ships, large cargoes on Panamax ships. Rice and some other lots also travel bagged in containers. Cargo holds are cleaned and inspected before loading, and fumigation certificates are often required by the importing country.
What buyers and sellers compare
The main quality terms are protein, moisture, test weight, foreign matter and damaged kernels for wheat, and similar standards for other grains. Buyers also compare the loading port, the loading rate, the shipment period and the inspection company. Sellers compare the payment method and the buyer's ability to nominate a vessel on time.
When the terms are agreed, you can explore suitable vessels on Shipfixing.
Questions about Cereals & Grains
What size ship carries grain?
Most grain moves on Handysize, Supramax and Panamax bulk carriers, from about 20,000 to 80,000 tonnes, depending on the loading and discharge ports and the draft limits.
What is a typical grain contract based on?
A written contract that names the grade, the quantity with a tolerance, the loading port and period, the Incoterm such as FOB or CIF, the payment terms and the inspection company.