Japanese noodle wheat delegation visits WA, and changes to ASWJ blend ratio for upcoming shipments.
Over two days at the end of January, the annual Western Australian noodle wheat industry consultations took place between GIWA, CBH, Grains Australia and a 14-person visiting delegation from the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Japan Flour Millers Association (JFMA). Noodle wheat supply and quality matters were discussed, and the delegation was also briefed by plant breeders InterGrain and AGT on potential new noodle varieties in the breeding pipeline.
On behalf of the WA grain industry, GIWA, CBH & Grains Australia (which has taken the place of the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) in this process now that AEGIC has merged with Grains Australia), have an established, formal process to communicate with both MAFF and JFMA to provide them with information through the WA growing season on seasonal conditions and how this may affect noodle wheat volumes and grain quality at harvest. Grain quality is a very important factor in the manufacture of Udon noodles, and because grain quality, particularly protein, is heavily influenced by seasonal growing conditions, every year at the conclusion of harvest GIWA, CBH & now Grains Australia review the noodle wheat delivery and grain quality data and make a formal recommendation to MAFF and JFMA concerning the optimal blend of ANW and APWN noodle wheat classes, known as the ASWJ blend, to satisfy the volume and quality requirements required by the Japan market for the coming 12months until the next WA harvest.
The favourable growing conditions experienced in most parts of the WA grain belt in the 2025 growing season resulted in ANW deliveries (tonnes) being significantly higher than in the 2024 growing season, however APWN deliveries were slightly down due mostly to grain quality reasons. Grain protein levels vary between port zones, but the port zone averages were generally similar to the 2024 growing season, with APWN protein slightly up in 2025 and ANW2 protein slightly down compared to 2024.
It is forecast that there are sufficient stocks available of the ANW and APWN wheat classes that make up the ASWJ blend to supply Japan’s anticipated demand for 2026. However, the ASWJ blend ratio has been adjusted to account for the higher APWN protein levels and lower ANW2 protein levels.
Further details on changes to the blend can be found in the Industry Advice Notice
