Australian sorghum exports outpace barley in July

Australia exported 310,686 tonnes of barley and 411,463t of sorghum in July, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Feed barley exports in July at 113,852t fell 77 percent from the June total of 485,077t, while malting barley exports at 196,834t fell 18pc from 239,422t in June.

Sorghum exports bucked the downtrend, surging 72pc from the 238,675t shipped in June, with China once again the market for nearly all the volume, and Taiwan on 4995t the only other volume customer.

China likewise was the biggest buyer by far of July-shipped feed barley with 101,248t, with Thailand on 4215t and Vietnam on 3105t and the second and third-biggest markets respectively.

In contrast to the barley-buying pattern of recent months, China’s malting imports from Australia on 185,389t greatly exceeding its feed imports.

Vietnam on 4921t and Singapore on 3132t were Australia’s second and third-biggest markets respectively for July-shipped malting barley.

Flexi Grain pool manager Sam Roache said barley shipments dropped in line with expectations as Australia’s runs to record tight carryout stocks after what could well be the second-largest or largest barley export year on record.

“China market share for the month was very high at 90pc plus, with Japan and South American shipments absent.

“From here, we expect to see similar volume months for August and September, with Northern Hemisphere origins taking the bulk of Chinese demand for this period.”

Overall Chinese barley imports for July were very strong at 1.23 million tonnes, which continues the rampant pace of imports over the last 12 months.

“Despite the news of Chinese calls to avoid barley and sorghum imports and unofficial caps on tonnage that made news in late August, we see a significant volume of fresh new-crop Chinese import business the past two weeks, along with open inquiry for the November-January period.”

Mr Roache said some impediments to new-crop barley sales are being seen in Australia as dry conditions in Victoria and South Australia prompt production concerns for some growers.

“It seems that defensive weather in parts, light grower selling, and ultra-tight carryout stocks are limiting new-crop barley sales more than anything else today.”

On sorghum, shipments picked up in July, with all zones contributing to shipments, but the availability of Central Queensland stocks and shipping making a notable difference from both Gladstone and Mackay.

“Like barley, the overall Chinese demand for July remained strong, and Australian share of total imports picked up significantly basis our July shipments.

“Sorghum was put under the same cloud as barley, with the China…rumours, and is more of a direct competitor with corn versus barley, which has a significant malting demand to service outside of feedgrains.

“This potentially puts sorghum under more scrutiny and possibly limitations.”

Table 1: Australian feed barley exports for May, June and July 2024. Source: ABS

Table 2: Australian malting barley exports for May, June and July 2024. Source: ABS

Table 3: Australian sorghum exports for May, June and July 2024. Source: ABS

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Tags: feed barley, malting barley, markets, sorghum, Australia, China, export, barley, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore