“We have just loaded the MV Catalina with 7,200 tons of UKP milling wheat bound for Turkey as the first ever shipment from the UK,” Gleadell trading manager Marc Rogerson said in a statement.

UKP is a brand of UK milling wheat, which comprises semi-hard varieties to suit both EU and non-EU bread-making.

A drought in Russia has helped to open up many new markets for British wheat in the 2010/11 season (July/June).

Shipments through the end of January to non-EU destinations totalled 280,772 tons, sharply up from just 22,448 tons in the same period in the 2009/10 season, customs data showed.

“This season has seen UK wheat traveling to some unusual destinations, and HGCA welcomes the news that Turkey can now be added to the list,” Sarah Mann, exports manager for Britain’s Home-Grown Cereals Authority said.

“With global production and quality becoming increasingly unpredictable due to climatic and political factors, overseas customers are exploring non-traditional suppliers for their wholegrain requirements.

Other non-EU destinations for UK wheat this season have included Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.