HC Deb 18 March 1985 vol 75 c333W
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the most recent estimates of the amount of grain that will arrive in the port of Assab in Ethiopia for each of the next three months, and as to how much will be in store at the port for each of those months.

Mr. Raison

Expected landings and stocks of relief food commodities at the port of Assab in the next three months are:

Month Estimated landings (metric tonnes) Estimated month end stocks (metric tonnes)
April 90,000 86,000
May 65,000 91,000
June 30,000 60,000

Grain-based commodities will account for approximately 80 per cent. of the above figures. Further shipments are likely to be arranged in the months ahead. Month end stocks will fluctuate according to the availability of vehicles. Target off-take is 3,000 tonnes a day against present average off-take of about 2,000 tonnes a day.