Harvesting Pioneer hybrid canola 43Y23RR at Daybreak Cropping’s Bodallin Farms in WA’s eastern wheatbelt. Photo: Rob Bagley, Horizon Ag Service

AUSTRALIA exported 104,564 tonnes of canola in September, up 13 per cent from the August total of 92,138t, according to the latest export data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Japan on 91,176t was the biggest market by far, with Nepal on 5846t and Malaysia on 5376t the second and third-biggest destinations respectively.

Canada’s drought-reduced 2021-22 crop has left its regular buyers screaming out for volume, with Japan a case in point.

In September last year, Australia shipped 11,893t to Japan, or 11pc of the September 21 total.

While Japan is a long-term and loyal customer for Australian seed, it normally sources volume supplies from Canada year round.

However, Canadian exports of canola to Japan in September were 71,521t, less than half the long-term monthly average.

Western Australia has already started exporting new-crop canola, and the first cargo for the season ex New South Wales is due to start loading later this month.

Table 1: Australian canola exports for July, August and September 2021. Source: ABS