CHS Broadbent announces plans for new grain export terminal in Australia

AUSTRALIA- CHS Broadbent, a leading player in the Australian grain industry, is set to enhance its capabilities with the construction of a state-of-the-art 80,000-tonne bulk grain export terminal in Geelong, Victoria. 

The company, a joint venture between the Broadbent family and CHS Inc., has announced that the facility will strengthen its position in the Asia-Pacific market and provide increased opportunities for local growers.

The terminal, scheduled to commence construction in 2024, will be owned and operated by CHS Broadbent. The strategic location in Geelong offers road and rail unloading capabilities, coupled with cutting-edge grain handling technology designed to ensure efficient loading of bulk export vessels. 

This is expected to result in quick turnaround times, benefiting both the company and its customers.

Steve Broadbent, Managing Director of CHS Broadbent, emphasized the company’s commitment to delivering quality service to farmers. 

“The addition of an export terminal to our supply chain service will see further value delivered to growers, right back to the farm gate,” he stated. 

The terminal is designed with an annual export capacity of 1.5 million tonnes, with an average projected export of around 1 million tonnes per year, equivalent to approximately 13 turns annually.

The decision to build the new terminal follows a land sale agreement between CHS Broadbent and Midway Limited for five hectares of the Midway Limited site at North Shore, Geelong. Brian Schouvieller, Chairman of the CHS Broadbent board and CHS Senior Vice President for Trading and Risk Management, expressed excitement about the strategic investment. 

“The Geelong location extends our supply chains in the Asia-Pacific region and provides farmers with a unique opportunity to connect with our global network,” he noted.

CHS Broadbent, currently operating grain storage, container packing, and grain freight operations across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, is equally owned by the Broadbent family and CHS Inc. CHS Inc, a Fortune 100 global agribusiness, is owned by farmers, ranchers, and cooperatives across the United States.

The upcoming grain export terminal is expected to introduce healthy competition into the market, creating more opportunities for growers to engage directly with the export sector. 

As the project progresses, CHS Broadbent aims to further solidify its position as a key player in the Australian grain industry, contributing to the nation’s agricultural growth and expanding its global reach.