AUSTRALIA exported 57,240t of malting barley, 187,920t of feed barley and 26,505t of sorghum in August, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Sorghum harvesting in July at Coalstoun Lakes in Queensland’s Burnett district. Photo: Pioneer Seeds

The August barley total of 245,340t is 19 per cent above the July figure, and the largest monthly barley export figure since May’s 269,000t.

“China remains Australia’s largest overall destination for 2019-20 with 1.4 million tonnes, and still represented the third-largest destination for barley in August with 32,200t, behind Thailand’s 32,847t and Japan’s 117,259t,” Market Check senior commodity advisor Andrew Retallick said.

“This was Japan’s largest monthly volume for the season, and represents 27pc of its 2019-20 Australian barley purchases.

“These largest three buyers handled a combined 74pc of Australia’s August barley exports, a smaller portion than their combined monthly average.

Mr Retallick said importers and exporters were  now focussed on the large new-crop tonnes due to start hitting the market late this month.

Sorghum exports totalled 26,505t, more than double July’s volume, which China buying around 80pc of the August tonnage.

“China comprises 69pc of total sorghum exports, or 52,000t, for the season to August.

“The Philippines has been our second-largest sorghum market…so far this season.”

Table 1: Australian malting barley exports for June, July and August 2020. Source: ABS

Table 2: Australian malting barley exports for June, July and August 2020. Source: ABS

Table 3: Australian sorghum exports for June, July and August 2020. Source: ABS

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