HGCA’s Exports Team will be celebrating 10 years of its milling wheat export classifications ukp and uks at this year’s Cereals event.

The ukp and uks classifications were rolled out in 2004 following repeated industry consultation to help establish and maintain export markets for UK milling wheat. They were developed to meet the specific requirements of export markets and now form part of the HGCA Recommended List.

ukp is a hard wheat classification used in the making of bread and uks is a soft wheat classification used for making biscuits or blending for bread making. In the course of the last decade, they have become a well-established means for overseas buyers to choose milling wheat for bread or biscuits at the specification they require, without needing detailed knowledge of each individual variety.

In the last 10 years, wheat from UK growers has been exported to 53 different countries, and 20 ukp and 31 uks varieties have been listed on HGCA’s Recommended List.

HGCA’s Exports Team organises an annual programme of events run specifically for international grain buyers, millers and bakers to learn more about the export wheat classifications and to maintain good relationships with the countries that import UK wheat.

Last month, a group of overseas millers and biscuit manufacturers representing countries with an import requirement of approximately 12Mt were invited to attend an HGCA-organised Biscuit Making Workshop. The two-day event helped them to learn more about the quality and properties of uks, and also gave delegates the opportunity to find out first-hand about the UK wheat industry and latest technologies used in biscuit making.

Sarah Mann, HGCA’s exports manager, said: “Over the last 10 years, 23.2 million tonnes of wheat have been exported from the UK. With typically 16% of wheat going for export each year, it is essential that HGCA continues to grow new markets for grain by adding value to surplus production while developing and maintaining export markets. This is a long-term initiative which involves HGCA working alongside industry to ensure our supply chain meets the demands of overseas buyers.”

Growers who are interested in HGCA’s export work are invited to talk to the Exports Team at the HGCA stand K-1203-12 over the two days of the Cereals event. There will be an opportunity for visitors to sample Moroccan biscuits baked with uks wheat.