Australia: Malting barley exports marginally up in August

Australia exported 619,445 tonnes of barley and 220,599t of sorghum in August, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Grain Central reported on October 12.

Feed barley accounted for 428,200t of the August barley exports, a drop of 27 percent from the 583,191t shipped in July.

Malting barley exports in August accounted for 191,245t, up marginally from July’s figure of 190,852t.

China was the biggest market by far for August-shipped barley and sorghum, and accounted for 87pc of feed barley, 94pc of malting barley and 98pc of sorghum.

In feed barley exports, Japan on 43,469t was the second-biggest market, followed by Vietnam on 3678t, while Vietnam on 7145t was the second-biggest malting market, followed by Singapore on 3440t.

Aside from China, Taiwan on 3489t, The Philippines on 850t, and Vietnam on 100t were the only markets for August-shipped sorghum.

McDonald Pelz senior broker Sam Roache said barley exports continued to fade into the back end of the year, in line with market expectations.

“This trend will continue into November, driven by a lack of availability from export areas into the close of the season,” Mr Roache said.

“Demand has also faded into the back end of the crop year, with China comfortable, and some brief competition from the Black Sea.”

Mr Roache said export barley demand continues to be sluggish in the face of a likely record production from the Australian barley harvest which has now started.

“This will see a significant amount of barley needing to be stored for longer periods, in contrast to the past few years where it flew out the door early in the season.”

Mr Roache said barley prices have started to compete better with falling low-grade wheat values.

“This will…potentially see more pressure on price from farmer liquidity versus expectations a month ago.”

Sorghum tonnage drifting lower in August as Australia runs down its stocks now that the latest Australian sorghum has been harvested in Central Queensland.

“The market quietened off fast into September and October, so expect a continued slide on export tonnages, with only containers working in recent times.”

Some planting of new-crop sorghum has taken place in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, but most growers are in need of significant rain in coming weeks to plant full intended area.

“Rain is looking good for the storm season, which could start to reverse the production scenario in the north and add some sorghum to trade for new crop.”

Mr Roache said pricing of new-crop sorghum was unknown.

“Argentina sorghum continues to be cheap, and a bigger Brazilian program is likely to cap the market for the foreseeable future.”

12 October, 2026