China Complains About Gluten Strength Of Canadian Wheat

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – China's state-owned agricultural trading company, COFCO, has complained about the poor baking performance of some Canadian spring wheat shipments and has suggested it may import more U.S. wheat instead, Canadian industry officials say.

COFCO raised concerns about weak gluten strength in some Canadian wheat shipments last month with a visiting delegation from the Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI), the institute's chief executive, Earl Geddes, said.

Geddes said at a Canada Grains Council meeting in Winnipeg on Tuesday that COFCO officials told the delegation that if the problem isn't corrected, COFCO may import more Dark Northern Spring (DNS) wheat from the United States instead of Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS).

"It's damaging the consistency part of the (Canadian wheat) brand as much as anything," Geddes said on the sidelines of the grains council meeting. "I don't think this is insurmountable in any way, to where the Canadian wheat brand will lose its position," he added.

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