Australia: Malting barley shipments drop in November while feed barley up 10 times compared to October 2025

Australia exported 912,990 tonnes of barley and 29,910t of sorghum in November, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

At 852,047t, the feed barley figure for the month is more than 10 times the 78,475t shipped in October, with China on 627,616t, Saudi Arabia on 117,045t, Kuwait on 41,335t, and the United Arab Emirates the four biggest customers.

Mexico on 30,000t and China, 19,136t were the only markets to take more than 5000t of November-shipped malting barley, which totaled 60,943t, down 37 percent from the 96,170t shipped in October.

China was the destination for 24,761t, or 83pc, of November-shipped sorghum, with The Philippines on 2521t and Taiwan on 2218t the only other markets to take more than 1000t.

McDonald Pelz senior broker Sam Roache said barley shipments in the first real new- crop month have started with a bang.

“They show a record 912,990t shipped versus sub 200,000t in October,” Mr Roache said.

“Demand has been constant, with the lower shipping months into the end of the year a product of tight available stocks.”

Mr Roache said volume was expected to grow into December and January, and remain consistently high for the year, with record production matching record import demand in China.

“Interestingly, we see relatively strong demand continue from the Middle East.

“Northern Hemisphere sellers are well committed into early Chinese sales; along with the rebound of Turkish imports, this account for the reversion to a more normal production season.

“Middle Eastern sales continue into February and March at least which, combined with record Chinese pace, sees a strongly demand led market.”

Sorghum shipments continue to be curtailed by low available stocks into November.

“We expect to see a continuation of low numbers in December and January.

“With the first new-crop harvest coming off now and relatively good prices and export demand, we will see exports start in February and ramp up from there.

“Notable too are the conditions for later sorghum,” Mr Roache said of the Queensland crop, prospects for which have been bolstered by recent rain in Central Qld.

“Chinese demand for sorghum is strong, but relatively cheap US supply is capping prices after the relaxation of retaliatory tariffs covering sorghum by China in late 2025.

“The US is by far the largest sorghum shipper globally, and China accounts for 90pc plus of their exports in many years, so this is a major shift for the market.”

21 January, 2026