Spokespersons for CWB and Bunge could not immediately be reached for comment.

A company spokeswoman declined to comment on the CWB deal.

But CWB has also traded big volumes on MGEX for decades, grain traders say.

CWB Chief Executive Ian White said the board is still negotiating with other handlers.

Canadian grain companies can also export without the CWB's involvement, potentially redrawing transportation patterns and market shares.

CWB did not release further financial details.

The storm's approach prompted the CWB to issue sea and land warnings for the east coast of Taiwan.

Under the deal, Saudi Arabia would still have to compete to buy grain from the CWB at market prices.

The CWB has long maintained that it commanded a price premium for Canadian farmers, based on its monopoly clout.

CWB, or the Canadian Wheat Board, for decades held government-sanctioned marketing control of Western Canada's milling wheat and barley.

Cargill Ltd, the third-largest Canadian grain handler, and the farmer-owned South West Terminal, agreed earlier to handle CWB grains.

Some offshore buyers have already raised concerns that breaking the CWB's monopoly may result in smaller supplies of top-quality Canadian wheat.

Last year, CWB bought Mission Terminal Inc from Upper Lakes Group, giving it grain storage at Port of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

About Canadian Western Bank Canadian Western Bank (CWB) is a Canada-based bank engaged in offering a range of financial services.

The issue has aroused some deep soul-searching among U.S. farmers, who traditionally have complained loudly against the CWB, a secretive government-sponsored seller.

CWB operates seven grain elevators in Western Canada, along with port terminals in Ontario and Quebec, and is building four additional grain-handling facilities.