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Exports

The Work of BCE

BCE’s role is to generate demand for cereals in overseas markets in order to ensure that exports of any over-production in the UK prevent oversupply of the domestic market. This helps to sustain internal prices for cereals relative to world prices.

In turn, BCE is also responsible for ensuring that the UK industry can provide a quality product required by overseas markets. By growing what the market requires, producers increase their opportunity to receive a premium and maximise returns.

To achieve these objectives BCE:

• Provides independent information to overseas buyers through a range of events and communications
• Works with overseas governments and embassies to open and develop markets in other countries
• Works with exporters to maximise opportunities for the trade of UK cereals
• Provides trade information to overseas buyers to enhance the marketing of UK grains
• Develops, maintains and promotes the wheat export brands ukp and uks in consultation with industry
• Analyses new wheat varieties to ascertain their suitability for overseas markets
• Raises the awareness of the export market as an option for growers to consider to maximise returns
• Increases the understanding and awareness of opportunities for cereals outside the UK and provides support for businesses to access them

The work of BCE is guided by a HGCA Advisory Committee – the BCE Committee – made up of growers and exporters. Further details can be found here.

BCE Activity

Bread Baking Workshop

The Bread Baking Workshop is an annual event which sees overseas buyers from different markets come together to bake their national breads using ukp and uks flour. This hands-on event gives buyers the opportunity to learn how to use UK wheat more effectively in their market.

Results from the Bread Baking Workshop held earlier this year are now available here.   (2972kb) 

The next Bread Baking Workshop will take place on 21-22 February 2012

Inward Mission

Inward missions give buyers the opportunity to experience the UK grain chain first hand and allow them to ask questions directly to growers, plant breeders and traders. A typical programme would involve a visit to a farm, a central store, an intake laboratory and a port, with other industry experts invited to speak to delegates.

Outward Missions

Each year BCE organises a number of visits to overseas markets. These trade missions have the key objective of informing overseas buyers of the availability in terms of both quantity and quality of UK cereals for the current season. UK traders are invited to join these missions, creating an ideal opportunity to do business. The missions typically take the form of a seminar with contacts from the country’s milling industry invited to hear papers on the current UK situation. BCE encourages two-way communication in order to learn more about overseas market requirements. Where appropriate, BCE endeavours to meet with overseas governments and embassies to open and develop markets and address any barriers to trade.

Events and Exhibitions

BCE attends a number of key industry events both in the UK and overseas to raise the awareness of the export brands and the export market.

Forthcoming events: