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FIRST FRENCH GRAIN SHIP TO CHINA FOR 9 YEARS
30th august 2013

FIRST FRENCH GRAIN SHIP TO CHINA FOR 9 YEARS - Vignet

Nord Céréales and the Port of Dunkirk have re-launched the grain trade between France and China.


The «Moon Globe», a Panamax ship 225m long and 32.26m broad, called at the Port of Dunkirk during the last week of August to load more than 60,000 tonnes of wheat from the Nord Pas-de-Calais, Somme and Aisne regions, bound for Guangzhou in China.

France had not shipped any grain to China since 2004. The quality of the wheat offered is highly satisfactory and opens up new opportunities for trade with Chinese buyers. With its outstanding access for shipping, its draught, and the handling facilities available, the Port of Dunkirk can accommodate very large ships for the loading of grain. The «Moon Globe» called at the Nord Céréales terminal and was loaded at a rate of 1,800 tonnes per hour, by using two gantry cranes simultaneously. Nord Céréales recently acquired a second loading gantry to double its handling capacities.

Joël Ratel, General Director of Nord Céréales, said: «The 2013-2014 season looks promising, in terms of both quantity and quality, and gives us good prospects for the coming weeks and months.»

Christine Cabau, Chair of Dunkerque-Port’s Executive Committee, added: «The investments made by Nord Céréales in the Port of Dunkirk are bearing fruit: we are able to berth and load extremely large ships with a high level of productivity to satisfy the most demanding clients. We are delighted with this result which rewards the efforts made by the sector.»