With applications open for bulk wheat export accreditation, it is believed there will be a flood of businesses applying to be eligible to send wheat internationally.
While Wheat Exports Australia has not released the number applications it has received since making the forms available in the last couple of weeks, an industry source has suggested that there could be up to 40 companies going for the accreditation.
The source said they had heard that companies were seeking the accreditation whether they would actually be exporting wheat in bulk or not, just to ensure they were in a position to do so if an international market emerged during the season.
The WEA has said it will maintain a registry of accredited exporters, including their name, ACN and conditions of accreditation on its website.
None of the applications have been approved as yet, and in the interim, the WEA has said it will not comment publicly on any application received or provide details relating to the identity of applicants as it considers the information commercial in-confidence.
However, there are a number of companies that have been public about their intentions to apply for accreditation, along with AWB who already have provision to do so.
Major marketers ABB, GrainCorp and Grainpool, CBH's accumulation arm, have all thrown their hands in the ring, while there will also be interest from international companies.
John Begg, secretary of the Australian Grain Exporters Association (AGEA), said all six member organisations of his association had indicated they either had, or would be, applying for accreditation.
The six members of the AGEA are Bunge, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Glencore, Noble Grain and Elders Toepfer.
Mr Begg said he believed companies were taking their time putting applications in, as the process was quite detailed, but that they still had firm intentions of applying.
He said he thought the opening up of the wheat market might attract overseas companies to set up in Australia and see others expand.
"I think we'll see new companies exploring their options in Australia now that it has been opened up, while those who are already here are expanding, for instance Louis Dreyfus is opening a new office in Western Australia," Mr Begg said.
He said he thought the commencement of an open system would lead to some new marketing products in order to entice greater tonnages.
"We have already seen Glencore leasing properties and setting up agreements with growers where they are guaranteeing the cost of production and then giving growers some of the sales proceeds, which I think would be very satisfactory for growers as take the production risk element out of the equation," he said.
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