Australia’s major grain and oilseed exports exceed 41 mln tons in MY 2025/26

Australia ended the MY 2025/26 with an increase in exports of its major agricultural commodities. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), combined shipments of wheat, barley, canola and sorghum reached 41.13 mln tons, up 3.9% from 39.58 mln tons exported in the previous season. However, this was still 13.9%, or 6.63 mln tons, below the record 47.76 mln tons recorded in 2023/24. Including oats, chickpeas, lentils and lupins, total exports of the eight major crops reached 46.11 mln tons.

Wheat remained Australia’s leading export crop, although shipments declined by 6.3% to 21.97 mln tons, compared with 23.44 mln tons a year earlier. Meanwhile, barley exports rose to a record 11.48 mln tons, exceeding the previous season’s result by 3.24 mln tons. Canola shipments totaled 5.37 mln tons, compared with 5.4 mln tons a year earlier, falling to their lowest level in five seasons. Sorghum exports also declined by 188 thsd tons to 2.31 mln tons, reflecting lower production.

Positive trends were recorded in several pulse and other crop segments. Combined exports of oats, chickpeas, lentils and lupins increased from 3.96 mln to 4.98 mln tons. Oat shipments rose by 38.5% to 846 thsd tons, while lentil exports increased by 606 thsd tons to 1.66 mln tons. Lupin exports reached 495 thsd tons, while chickpea shipments declined slightly to 1.98 mln tons. Growth in these commodities partially offset lower exports of wheat, canola and sorghum.

China remained the largest buyer of Australian agricultural commodities, importing 14.3 mln tons of the eight major crops in 2025/26, accounting for approximately 31% of total exports. Barley and sorghum dominated Chinese purchases, totaling 11.48 mln tons. The Philippines ranked second among importers with a 9.7% share, followed by Indonesia at 8.9%. The European Union accounted for 7.4% of Australian shipments, while Yemen represented 4.5%. Meanwhile, the Philippines became the largest buyer of Australian wheat, overtaking Indonesia.

Western Australia remained the country’s leading exporting state, accounting for 51% of total shipments of the eight crops. South Australia increased its share to 15.1% following a recovery in production, while Victoria accounted for 14.2% of exports. Meanwhile, weaker production prospects and higher domestic prices constrained export activity through east coast ports during the second half of the season. Overall, the 2025/26 results highlight Australia’s continued strong export potential, although shipment patterns are becoming increasingly dependent on demand from Asian markets and regional fluctuations in crop yields.

Tags: Australia, grain, barley, wheat, rapeseed, sorghum