Australia: Malting barley exports down 64% in August
Australia exported 494,419 tonnes of barley and 167,155t of sorghum in August, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The barley comprises 118,399t of malting, down 64 percent from the 328,650t shipped in July, and 376,020t of feed, up 25pc from the July figure.
On feed, China on 269,292t was the biggest market by far for August shipment, followed by Japan on 96,700t, and Vietnam on 3589t.
In malting exports, China on 113,439t accounted for the vast majority of exports, followed by Vietnam on 2012t, and Singapore on 1980t.
China was also the dominant market by far for sorghum, taking 162,557t, with Taiwan on 3374t, The Philippines on 1203t, and Japan on 22t the only other destinations for August.
Compass Grain director Sam Roache said shipping stems indicated Australia’s barley exports in September would be around half the August total, ahead of the lowest carry-out on record.
“These lower exports are not demand driven, with Chinese buying remaining strong right through the August-December period,” Mr Roache said.
“Overall, Australia has remained competitive on price to China versus the other options in Ukraine, France and Canada.
“Argentina is beginning to compete with us on price today as they get closer to harvesting an improved crop year on year, but all in all as a country, we are well enough priced to attract exports.
“With the record crop coming, Australia will need to stay competitive on the whole to avoid stacking up a big national carry-out.”
Mr Roache said barley prices in south-east Australia have “dropped off a cliff” after the premium from the drought market fell away over winter.
“Prices went well above export parity over winter, driven by feed markets and growers holding stocks back, with the market now just coming back to reality.”
He said the dry finish for barley crops will add some support in the Riverina and Victoria, but explosive price action akin to the rally earlier this year is unlikely, with expanded area and a record national crop likely, and harvest fast approaching.
“The record WA crop has and will be competing hard on exports and has an extensive book on.”
Compared with last season, Mr Roache South Australia and Victoria are also looking at improved production, and the intensive feeding regions in south-west Vic and SA’s South East SA have improved soil moisture and more favourable spring conditions.
“We expect October and November to continue with limited export volumes, with old-crop run dry and new-crop unavailable to ship in volume in much of the country.
“From late November, Mr Roache said shipping stems were expected to swell with barley volume, based on significant current-crop sales already being on the books.
“The majority of export sales will be executed out of WA, followed by SA.
“Vic and southern NSW exports are expected to be significantly behind owing to higher price, growers holding, and domestic demand.”
Mr Roache said the eastern Australian market was likely to focus on FAQ-malting barley and containers as long as Vic prices maintain their premiums to WA.
On sorghum, a stellar export program has outperformed last year’s on volume by more than 500,000t, or 30pc.
The boost has come from increased sales to China, which normally gets most of its sorghum from the US.
“We have chopped through the stocks fast, which is no surprise considering the good pricing to growers and strong export demand ex China, which is lacking US supply due to the trade war.”
Mr Roache said sorghum exports were expected to continue to slide in September and October, with limited stocks left to move, before slowing to a trickle in November, once northern shipping stems transition to chickpeas and wheat.
“Like barley, Chinese demand for sorghum remains strong and the market is squeezed for supply in the October-January period, causing an inverse in price.
“Like barley, sorghum is a one-destination show, and completely reliant on China.”
10 October, 2025
