Value-Adding Through Packing
While the majority of Australian grain exports are shipped in bulk, a significant and growing proportion is packed into containers, bags, or consumer-ready packaging. Packing adds value, opens niche markets and often commands a significant premium over bulk commodity prices.
Container Packing
Full Container Load (FCL) packing is common for pulses and specialty grains. Grain or pulses are packed into 20-foot or 40-foot shipping containers using specialised packing equipment at port-adjacent facilities. Markets like the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia prefer container-packed pulses.
Big Bag (FIBC) Packing
Flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBCs or “big bags”) holding 500 kgā1,500 kg are popular for food-grade and industrial markets. They offer traceability and handling advantages for buyers who can’t handle bulk vessels.
Small Pack & Consumer Packaging
A smaller but growing segment involves packing grain and pulses into retail-ready consumer bags (1ā25 kg). This is most developed in the organic and specialty grain segments, and for export to ethnic grocery markets.
š·ļø Grain Quality & Food Safety
Export packing facilities must comply with AQIS biosecurity requirements and often hold accreditation under HACCP and other food safety management systems. Premium markets like Japan, EU and the US have strict quality requirements.
š° The Premium Opportunity
Container-packed Kabuli chickpeas or green lentils can achieve prices 20ā40% higher than equivalent bulk commodity grades, reflecting the value of segregation, quality assurance and convenient packaging for importing countries.
| State | Key Operators / Sites | Commodities Packed | Pack Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Australia | Various Adelaide metropolitan facilities; regional pulse packers | Lentils, chickpeas, faba beans | Container, Big Bag, Small Pack |
| Victoria | Melbourne port-zone packers; Horsham region | Lentils, wheat flour, canola meal | Container, Big Bag |
| New South Wales | Sydney/Port Botany; inland NSW regional packers | Chickpeas, wheat, sorghum | Container, Big Bag |
| Queensland | Brisbane port zone; Darling Downs packers | Chickpeas, sorghum, wheat | Container, Big Bag |
| Western Australia | Fremantle/Kwinana port zone; CBH container pack | Wheat, barley, lupins, canola | Container, Bulk bags |