ACCC consults on auctions for SA wheat ports
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a consultation paper seeking submissions from stakeholders on global agribusiness Viterra’s proposed auction system for the use of its port services for bulk wheat export in South Australia.
Under the Access Undertaking accepted by the ACCC in September 2011, Viterra must replace its first come, first served capacity allocation system with an auction.
Viterra has proposed an auction system which it intends to commence this year in time for the harvest season.
In 2011, more than 8.41 million tonnes of grain was exported from Viterra’s South Australian ports on behalf of 15 exporters – an all-time record for the State.
The ACCC oversees port access arrangements for wheat exporters as part of the deregulation of the wheat industry. Access undertakings are intended to ensure that third party exporters are able to access the port terminals operated by vertically integrated port terminal operators, ensuring competition in the market for the export of bulk wheat.
