Extract: The main grain-exporting countries may cooperate more closely in the eighties than in the past. In addition, there may be incentives to vary the policies of the marketing boards in Australia and Canada and increased internal pressure for the United States to sever the link between world grain prices and its domestic prices. Those are some possible consequences if forecasts of higher and less stable grain prices in the eighties are realized and if the structure of world trade continues to move toward more bilateral agreements and a greater role for state trading organizations.

Grain is one of the most important commodities shipped around the world and one of the most unpredictable markets to trade in. This publication combines an overview of the market, the problems of carriage by sea and the legislative environment to bring a useful handbook to all those concerned with the care, sale and delivery of this cargo.