Grains Australia is continuing to work closely with flour millers in the key North Asian markets of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to document their specific wheat quality preferences.
The initiative involves using a variety of survey methods and engagement with milling companies to collate objective evidence of customer requirements wheat and quality targets. The insights gathered will empower the industry to make informed decisions around wheat classification, breeding and production.
Wheat quality preferences: China 2026
In March 2026, Grains Australia wheat market experts Dr Larisa Cato and Justin Swan engaged with Chinese flour millers to continue collating and validating their rankings of the most important quality attributes for Australian wheat. The findings will be analysed and used to support the Australian wheat industry’s world-leading market-driven classification system to further ensure that our wheat meets the requirements of Chinese customers.
There are differences in eating preferences across the diverse regions of China, which may lead to different wheat quality profiles depending on the region. For the purposes of this initiative, Chinese wheat quality preferences are being documented for three broad regions: South China, East China, and North China.
The mills we are engaging with are very welcoming, and eager to collaborate and learn more about how to use Australian wheat. There is good awareness of the advantages of Australian wheat, which include good colour and balanced dough properties.
Wheat customer quality preferences in China: initial insights
- Products being studied include white salted dried noodles, Chinese fresh yellow alkaline noodles, northern-style steamed bread, southern-style steamed buns, western-style toast and sandwich bread, sponge cakes, and sugar snap cookies.
- Flour millers consider end-product quality to be very important, including colour, brightness and texture. End-product quality consistently ranks as the most important attribute.
- There is potential demand for low protein soft wheat for products such as steamed buns and cakes.
China: a global wheat powerhouse
China is one of the largest producers of wheat in the world. Wheat is used for a wide variety of products across China, including different types of noodles, dumplings, steamed breads, “western” style bakery goods, and many more.
Flour usage in China is divided approximately into 80% for traditional Chinese products such as noodles, dumplings and steamed breads, and 20% “Western” style products, such as toast bread, sponge cakes and cookies.
To fully satisfy Chinese requirements for both quantity and quality, wheat is also imported from several suppliers, including the USA, Canada and Australia.
Wheat quality preferences: Japan, Korea and Taiwan 2026
Japan
In June 2026, we engaged with wheat millers and customers in Japan to further collate and validate the quality requirements for key Japanese products including:
- Udon noodles
- Ramen noodles
- Sponge cakes
- Sugar snap cookies
- Bread
For most end products, Japanese flour millers consider end product quality to be very important, indicating the continued importance of sensory evaluation.
Korea
In South Korea, we are collaborating with flour mills to better understand their quality requirements for Korean products including:
- White salted noodles
- Dried and instant Ramyeon
- Sponge cakes
- Sugar snap cookies
- Bread
Unlike other markets we are working with, Korean millers emphasise the importance of economic value for the flour miller, with attributes related to end product quality ranked lower. However, millers in South Korea state their ultimate goal is to deliver quality to customers.
Taiwan
The Taiwanese millers we are engaging with have a strong preference for wheat from the United States, however it is still a valuable market for Australia. Products we are focusing on include:
- White salted noodles
- Fresh yellow alkaline noodles
- Sponge cakes
- Sugar snap cookies
- Bread
- Steamed buns
Millers in Taiwan consider technical support and training especially important.
Grains Australia is continuing to engage with wheat customers in China, Japan, Taiwan, and Korea to collect and validate their wheat quality requirements. Detailed findings and insights will be analysed and communicated to stakeholders to ensure the Australian wheat industry addresses challenges and captures opportunities in these markets.