There were 18.5 million tonnes of wheat exported last year, according to Wheat Exports Australia, compared to 19.1mt in 1996-7, which is the Australian record.

Bulk exports rose significantly year on year, from 12.1mt in 2009-10 to 16.3mt in 2010-11, however containerised exports dropped from 2.5mt to 2.2mt.

One of the major facts of interest for growers was the number of exporters and buyers.

There were 19 active exporters, moving grain to a whopping 182 bulk buyers and 464 containerised buyers.

These numbers are up markedly in the past three years, with container buyers rising 15pc since 2008-9.

This is in spite of the number of countries buying Australian wheat falling from 42 three years ago to 36 this export year.

The majority of bulk wheat exports again went to Asia with exports to the region increasing by 37pc from 2009/10.

Exports to Africa, including the major market of Sudan, increased by 49pc, while the healing process following the oil for food scandal appears to be working, with the first sales of wheat to Iraq since the Volcker report came out, a highlight of an increase in exports to the Middle East of 21pc.

Although the single desk is gone, key exporters have emerged, with seven major exporters moving over a million tonnes for the export year.

Of the 16.3mt of bulk wheat exported during 2010/11, 8.5 million tonnes (52%) was shipped to five countries - Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan and Iraq. The top 10 countries accounted for 12.2mt or 75pc of Australian bulk wheat exports.

The wet harvest and logistical issues have had a role in limiting total exports, with a relatively high figure of nine million tonnes of carryover recorded.