Audio script:

Welcome to the fourth episode of the Pasta Parcel, your monthly dose of global and domestic Durum market information. I'm Jaimee Maunder, and today we're coming to you from Moree.

We're at the start of October, which means we're knocking on harvest's door with the first crops expected to kick off in the next month. Rain this week will see crops finished filling and flowering. Durum harvest in the states is wrapping up with the USDA estimating production just under a million tonnes. In the EU we are seeing French production being estimated down 40,000 tonnes and the Spain crop being estimated down 30,000.

World pasta demand is expected to start picking back up as we head back into the winter season in the northern hemisphere. Mill buyers continue to buy hand to mouth as they keep positions close, even with slow sales on the semolina front.

Global prices are beginning to come back after the price correction we saw in North America and Europe in early September. In mid-September, we saw Algeria come to the market for a November tender, where they bought about 300,000 tonne, most of it working out of Mexico and a small amount out of Canada. Prices to remain stable to firm on smaller global production and available exports.

Locally, Durum wheat prices are sitting at $560 into Moree.

Thanks for tuning into this month's Pasta Parcel episode. With just a few weeks until we hit the harvest rush, it's a great time to get your Durum marketing plans in order if you haven't already. To discuss options we have available this season, please don't hesitate to call me on 0438 578 216.

Keep an eye out for next month's update.