Bankers focus on Supply Trade

NIGTA organised a Seminar at the Belfast Harbour Commissioners Office for the Danske Bank's Agribusiness team recently. A program of speakers covered the range of activity within the local supply trade. Presentations were delivered by Joe O'Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour who gave an insight into the history of Belfast Harbour and the important role the port plays in the agricultural industry here..

NI Grain Trade Association Chief Executive Robin Irvine pictured at the Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting in Belfast chatting to John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations, Danske Bank and Roberta Armstrong, Agribusiness Manager, Danske Bank, Coleraine
NI Grain Trade Association Chief Executive Robin Irvine pictured at the Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting in Belfast chatting to John Henning, Head of Agricultural Relations, Danske Bank and Roberta Armstrong, Agribusiness Manager, Danske Bank, Coleraine

Ben Frazer from W & R Barnett spoke on global grain markets focusing on recent production estimates and likely trends for this year. This was followed by NIGTA Chief Executive Robin Irvine who gave a local perspective highlighting the importance of the supply trade and the effect of price volatility on agriculture here. Robin highlighted the problems of profitability and cash flow at farm level and the impact this had on the trade.

Guest speakers at the recent Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting were Ben Frazer, Commodity Trader, W&R Barnett; Robin Irvine, Chief Executive, NI Grain Trade Association and Joe O'Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour They are pictured with John Henning, Robert McCullough and Debbie Reid from Danske Bank during the event held at Belfast Harbour in association with the NI Grain Trade Association.
Guest speakers at the recent Danske Bank Agribusiness team meeting were Ben Frazer, Commodity Trader, W&R Barnett; Robin Irvine, Chief Executive, NI Grain Trade Association and Joe O'Neill, Commercial Director, Belfast Harbour They are pictured with John Henning, Robert McCullough and Debbie Reid from Danske Bank during the event held at Belfast Harbour in association with the NI Grain Trade Association.

All presentations were followed by useful Q&A sessions with discussion continuing over lunch at the Harbour Office. The group then travelled to John Thompsons & Sons Ltd for a tour of the mill at York Street, Belfast and an informative discussion with Declan Billington, Chief Executive and George Starrett, Nutritionist.