Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDry Grain
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Common wheat grain in Switzerland is a regulated domestic bread-grain market anchored by the Swiss Plateau and organized around collection points, mills, and bakeries. The country covers most of its bread-grain needs domestically, but imports still matter for balance and quota-managed supply. Quality is screened tightly at intake, with protein, hectoliter weight, falling number, Zeleny value, wet gluten, and baking tests shaping acceptance. Mycotoxin pressure from Fusarium remains the main quality and acceptance risk.
Market RoleDomestic producer with structural import dependence
Domestic RoleStaple grain for milling, bread production, and related bakery supply chains
Specification
Primary VarietyBread wheat (common wheat / soft wheat)
Secondary Variety- CH Nara
- Montalbano
- Wiwa
- CH Claro
- Baretta
- Hanswin
Physical Attributes- Hectoliter weight
- Protein content
- Kernel soundness
- Low visible fusarium damage
- Uniform kernel size
Compositional Metrics- Protein content
- Falling number
- Zeleny value
- Wet gluten
- Moisture content
- DON / mycotoxin levels
Grades- TOP
- I
- II
- Biskuit
- Futterweizen
Packaging- Bulk silo lots
- Bulk truck or rail wagon loads
- Big-bag lots for special grades
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Field production -> collection point -> intake testing -> mill intake -> flour production -> bakeries and food manufacturing
Temperature- No cold chain is required; dry, cool storage is more important than refrigeration
- Condensation and moisture pickup must be avoided in storage and transit
Atmosphere Control- Ventilated silo conditions help limit mould and insect activity
- Dry storage reduces the risk of quality loss during holding periods
Shelf Life- Shelf life is long in dry storage, but quality falls quickly if moisture, insects, or fungal contamination increase
Freight IntensityHigh
Transport ModeMultimodal
Risks
Food Safety HighFusarium pressure can produce DON and related mycotoxins in winter bread wheat. Swiss granum says mycotoxin risk must be managed before and after harvest, and suspect lots may need separate harvesting, storage, and testing before sale.Use resistant varieties, monitor pre-harvest risk, separate suspect lots, and test before delivery.
Regulatory Compliance MediumBread grain imports are managed under Swiss tariff quota no. 27, and BLW/BAZG procedures depend on correct tariff classification and quota status. Misclassification or quota exhaustion can delay clearance.Confirm tariff number, quota availability, and permit status before shipment.
Logistics MediumWheat is a bulk commodity, so inland freight, silo capacity, and road or rail disruptions can quickly affect mill supply and landed cost.Book inland transport early and keep alternate delivery windows or storage capacity.
Market / Price Volatility MediumSwiss producer and mill prices move with harvest quality and import parity, so quality downgrades or global wheat swings can affect margins.Split buying windows and align contracts with quality specs.
Sustainability- Soil fertility management in arable rotations
- Climate variability and wet flowering periods can raise disease pressure
- Fusarium prevention depends on variety choice, crop rotation, and harvest discipline
Standards- swiss granum acceptance conditions
- Suisse Garantie
- Bio Suisse
FAQ
Is Switzerland self-sufficient in bread wheat?Not fully. BLW says Switzerland produces about 85% of its bread-grain needs domestically, so imports still cover the balance.
What quality tests matter for Swiss bread wheat acceptance?Swiss granum uses hectoliter weight, protein, falling number, Zeleny value, wet gluten, moisture, and baking tests to judge quality.
What is the main quality risk for Swiss wheat lots?Mycotoxins linked to Fusarium are the key risk. Swiss granum runs a specific risk-management system and says suspect lots may need separate handling and testing.
Which import quota matters for bread grain?Swiss granum tracks bread grain imports under tariff quota no. 27.