Commercial Wheat Cargoes Land in Colombia Following Successful Food for Progress Monetization Project

This summer, four bulk carriers filled with U.S. wheat have successfully docked at Buenaventura, Colombia’s Pacific Coast, marking a significant milestone in the Food for Progress program. This initiative, supported by U.S. Wheat Associates (USW), has facilitated the first commercial sales of U.S. wheat directly linked to a monetization project. Miguel Galdos, USW’s regional director for South America, emphasized that these sales reflect the quality of U.S. wheat and the strong relationships built with Colombian millers.

U.S. Wheat Competes in a Crowded Market

Colombia, home to the second-largest population in South America, relies heavily on imported wheat for its flour milling industry. The industry is divided into regional clusters based on port locations along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Wheat arriving at Buenaventura is transported by truck to major flour mills in cities like Cali and Bogotá, serving the country’s largest baking sector.

The Colombian market is fiercely competitive, with duty-free imports available from the United States, Canada, Mercosur, and the European Union. While U.S. wheat benefits from its proximity to West Coast ports and duty-free access, Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat has traditionally been favored. To challenge this preference, USW’s South American team has leveraged funding from the USDA’s Market Access Program (MAP), Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP), and Agricultural Trade Promotion Program (ATP) to showcase the advantages of U.S. wheat to Colombian millers and food companies.

Food for Progress Program Fuels Future Opportunities

The recent sales were made possible after Partners of America received a Food for Progress Merit Award in 2024, building on a successful project from 2020. Under this program, the U.S. government provides commodities like wheat to be sold to local processors in recipient countries such as Colombia. The proceeds from these sales are then reinvested into developmental projects, including initiatives to support Colombian cacao growers, funded by the monetization of U.S. hard red winter (HRW) and hard red spring (HRS) wheat.

USW collaborated with Partners to establish specifications tailored for Colombian buyers and conducted workshops for regional wheat purchasing managers. This groundwork led to the departure of the vessel LIBERTY GRACE on March 15, 2025, carrying 20,000 metric tons of U.S. HRW wheat and 13,400 metric tons of U.S. HRS wheat. Upon arrival in Buenaventura, Colombian companies were well-prepared to integrate U.S. wheat into their flour blends, thanks to USW’s technical support.

Damen Naval’s Contract with Lloyd’s Register for New Frigate for Colombia

Since the project’s conclusion, demand for U.S. wheat from Colombian millers has surged. Four additional vessels have since delivered U.S. wheat to Buenaventura, with total purchases reaching 53,714 metric tons (1.97 million bushels). The majority of these purchases consisted of U.S. HRW wheat, with a notable amount of U.S. HRS wheat also being acquired, marking a significant shift in a market previously dominated by CWRS wheat.

Two of the vessels that originated from the Pacific Northwest were “grocery boats,” capable of carrying multiple commodities. After unloading their U.S. HRW wheat in Buenaventura, they proceeded to deliver U.S. soft white (SW) wheat to ports in Ecuador. USW has actively promoted these combined shipments to South American buyers, allowing importers to optimize freight costs. Five years ago, such shipments were rare in South America, highlighting USW’s strategic efforts to connect buyers with U.S. wheat traders.

Galdos remarked that the successful sales of U.S. wheat to Colombia illustrate the effectiveness of the Food for Progress program and USW’s dedication to expanding market access for U.S. wheat farmers. He noted that USW is monitoring additional commercial sales expected to arrive in Colombian ports this fall and will continue to provide trade and technical assistance to strengthen relationships with Colombian millers.