Pioneer territory sales manager Kim Mayfield in a promising crop of Pioneer canola hybrid 44Y94CL at Aidinville Farms near Ongerup, WA last month after 60mm of rain in July and a top dress. Pioneer Seeds – Australia

AUSTRALIA exported 155,289 tonnes of canola in July, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

July shipments were up 53 percent from the June figure of 101,766t, but were roughly one third of the 386,033t shipped in July 2024.

Japan on 76,357t, the United Arab Emirates on 64,335t, and Malaysia on 6584t were the three biggest markets for canola shipped in July 2025.

As often happens in July, European ports were absent from the destination list to reflect Australia’s biggest canola market switching to its own new-crop rapeseed supplies.

Signs from China

While Europe is expected to remain Australia’s major market for non-GM seed, hopes are building that China will reopen to Australian canola, which has not made its way in since 2020, when concerns were raised about the blackleg disease in Australian seed.

Based on China now having tariffs in place on Canadian canola seed as well as oil and meal, Lachstock Consulting’s GM Canola Market Wire released September 10 includes a case study entitled China is Back.

“This creates a commercial reason for China to knock on Australia’s door and look past the recent trade issues,” Lachstock said of the Canada-China stoush.

The study points to China’s COFCO as having bought Australian cargoes, despite no official notification as yet from the Australian Government on the trade reopening, and said the state-owned entity has received GM-certificate import approvals for two vessels.

“While this didn’t specify that it was canola, let alone Australian origin, the market rumour mill went into hyperdrive that Australian canola seed was once again destined for China.

“Over a two-week period, we expect between five and nine cargoes of Australian canola seed have been purchased by the state-owned enterprise COFCO, and the door is well and truly open.

“We have also been treated to more headlines suggesting governments are catching up with the recent trades and now positioning to make a positive trade statement to legitimise the flows and cash in on their lobbying ‘prowess’.

“Until then, or until COFCO executes a series of cargoes in November, other shippers and buyers will be reluctant to trade outside the COFCO channels.

“All in all, it’s a positive move for Australian demand, especially for GM canola seed, which should lead to a narrowing in the GM spread.”

Table 1: Australian canola exports for May, June and July 2025. Source: ABS

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