A well-advanced paddock of April-sown canola in WA’s Esperance region. Photo: Monica Field

AUSTRALIA exported 563,346 tonnes of canola in April, down 38 percent from the 904,178t shipped in March, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Belgium on 245,039t was the biggest market by far for April-shipped canola, followed by the closely grouped Netherlands on 65,190t, France on 64,188t, and Germany on 63,900t.

April 2025 exports are 13pc below the 647,700t shipped in April 2024.

The month also showed the return of Pakistan as a volume customer following a two-month halt in exports following the Pakistani Government’s rescinding of approval for fumigation on arrival of Australian canola with methyl bromide.

Following bilateral discussions, Australian canola fumigated with phosphine is now accepted by Pakistan, as is the case with Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Mexico.

According to Lachstock Consulting’s May 13 and June 3 Australian Vessel Line-ups reports, Australia was expected to ship 508,000t of canola in May and only 91,000t in June, in line with the annual downtrend in the third quarter of the shipping year to September.