Canola growing in Western Australia. Photo: Alba Edible Oils

AUSTRALIA exported 593,809 tonnes of canola in December, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The December figure lifts shipments for the first quarter of the crop year to 1.48 million tonnes (Mt), up from 1.47Mt shipped in the December 2023 quarter.

December 2024 shipments were down 16 percent from the 709,428t shipped in the previous month, and the three biggest markets were Belgium on 185,415t, Germany on 125,2315, and France on 115,018t.

South Asian demand was also notable, with Pakistan taking 63,787t and Bangladesh 28,966t.

If a general seasonal break arrives at the ideal time, Australia’s 2025-26 canola will be planted primarily in April and May.

According to Lachstock Consulting’s recent vessel line-up reports, January stems indicate 604,000t was to be shipped last month, and 491,000t is booked for this month.

Lachstock’s latest GM canola wire said the global oilseed market continues to show great volatility.

“Looking further ahead, many market participants are seeing a tight vegetable oil market through 2025 thanks to strong demand due to increasing biofuel mandates [in Indonesia and Europe] and production challenges for palm oil in Indonesia and Malaysia,” the report said.

“Demand in India remains strong.

“Whilst China has been a strong buyer of Canadian canola in recent months, the jury is still out on the ability of the Chinese economy to continue to warrant growth in vegetable oil consumption.

“The big swinging factors for demand are all political for now as we talk through some of the scenarios below in this week’s case study.”

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