Rohstoffe
Weizen und Getreide: die Qualitätsparameter, die Käufer prüfen
Protein, Feuchtigkeit, Hektolitergewicht, Fallzahl und Fremdbesatz bestimmen Güteklasse und Preis von Weizen und anderem Getreide. Die Begriffe und die Papiere.
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Grain is graded, not just weighed
Wheat, corn, barley, rice and other grains are traded in very large volumes, often on standard contracts. The price depends on quality parameters that a mill or feed producer cares about. Two cargoes of wheat can have the same weight and very different value, because one suits bread flour and the other is for animal feed.
Wheat parameters
Protein
Protein content, stated as a percentage, shows suitability for bread-making. Higher protein generally means stronger dough. Contracts state a minimum, and a price adjustment applies below it. Know the moisture basis on which protein is reported.
Moisture
Moisture is capped, often around 13 to 14 percent for wheat, because higher moisture risks heating, mould and spoilage in storage and on the voyage. It also dilutes weight.
Test weight
Also called hectolitre weight, it is the weight of a fixed volume of grain. It is a rough indicator of plumpness and milling yield, and buyers set a minimum.
Falling number
A test that indicates enzyme activity from sprouting damage. A low falling number can mean sprouted grain and poor baking quality.
Gluten
Gluten content and quality matter for dough strength, and some contracts specify wet gluten or a related test.
Foreign material and damaged kernels
Dirt, chaff, weed seeds, other grains, broken, shrivelled or insect-damaged kernels. Maximum limits apply, and the sum of defects can reduce the grade.
Other grains
Corn, or maize, is graded on moisture, broken kernels and foreign material, and also on mycotoxin levels such as aflatoxin where required. Barley for feed or malting has its own limits, including germination for malting. Soybeans and other oilseeds add oil and protein content. In every case, check the specific parameters in the standard or the contract used for that product and origin.
Contaminants and safety
Importing countries set limits on mycotoxins, pesticide residues and heavy metals. A laboratory certificate showing results against the importer's limits is often required before shipment. If you buy for a specific destination, ask for its limits before you sign.
Origin, crop year and harvest
Contracts name the origin and often the crop year. Some buyers accept a range of origins, while others require a single one. The crop year matters because older grain may have lost quality. Where origin is mixed, say so.
Plant health and fumigation
Most importers require a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country's plant protection authority, stating that the grain was inspected and is free of listed pests. Cargo may also be fumigated, with a fumigation certificate that names the product, dose and date. Check the destination's requirements, because rules differ and rejected cargo is costly.
Inspection and weighing
An independent inspector samples grain as it is loaded, tests it according to the named method, checks the cleanliness of the hold, and calculates weight by draft survey or shore scale. The contract states whether the loading result or the discharge result is final, and the tolerance for variance. Bulk grain is often shipped by the vessel load, so quantity tolerance is also standard.
Where to look next
Tonport has pages for wheat and corn with indicative customs codes and open listings, and the market page shows delayed grain reference prices that you can compare with offers where the product matches. The Agri channel in the Forum is the place to ask about specifications and logistics.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
- What moisture is acceptable for wheat?
- The contract sets a maximum, commonly in the low teens as a percentage. Lower is safer for storage and shipping.
- What is test weight?
- It is the weight of a standard volume of grain, usually kilograms per hectolitre. It indicates plumpness and potential milling yield.
- What is a phytosanitary certificate?
- An official document from the plant protection authority of the exporting country stating that the plant product was inspected and meets the importer's plant health requirements.
- Why does the crop year matter?
- Different harvests vary in quality, and stored grain can deteriorate. Contracts name the crop year so both sides know what they are buying.
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