E-Malt.com News article: Australia: Malting barley exports more than double in October compared to September

Australia exported 177,225 tonnes of barley and 93,756t of sorghum in October, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

October feed barley exports on 80,306t were down sharply from the 272,158t shipped in September, while malting exports on 96,919t were more than double the 35,283t shipped in September.

October sorghum exports were down sharply from the 226,975t shipped in the previous month, with China on 87,165t once again the destination for nearly all of the volume.

Compass Grain director Sam Roache said low stocks of barley and sorghum limited both sorghum and barley exports.

“Barley demand remains hot, with upwards of 3Mt of business now on the books for China from November to March-April, and no signs of pull-back from the buy side,” Mr Roache said.

“China’s local corn price has been strong and has rallied US$25/t plus over the past month, which is further underpinning an already bullish demand scenario.”

Mr Roache said the demand profile was matching off well against supply, with a record Australian barley crop broadly expected, and yield feedback supporting market estimates.

“There are some in the market talking up to 18Mt production, which would be a record with a margin of 3Mt, or around 20pc; this would be an amazing result.”

“Other elements in the world are tracking unchanged, with Australia clearly best priced to China, and Türkiye’s returned demand supporting Black Sea prices, but note: there has been some good rains recently to quell drought and help bolster new crop.

“Middle East demand remains there too, but has lost a bit of push, as shorts got covered and price pushed away from new crop.

“This has left China in control of the buy side of the market, with their demand alone strong enough to push our values higher by US$5-10/t in the past month or so.”

Mr Roache said Western Australia has been the main seller, capitalising on demand and moving a strong percentage of its crop.

“East-coast and South Australian sellers have been slower, along with their harvest pace.”

He said the market’s bullishness may come under pressure from Australia’s record crop now being harvested.

“In my eyes to get price really moving, we will need other elements, probably including an east-coast dry or drought event like we saw last year, and which we cannot rule out in southern New South Wales today.

On sorghum, exports were their lowest in months to reflect low stocks caused by a fast-paced export program.

“Notable for the market is that US sorghum has begun trading again in containers, with the demand profile getting more comfortable with purchasing, given ‘progress’ on trade talks.

“US sorghum remains penalised by a 10pc tariff into China, but they have big pent-up stocks to move, which is a lot of stored-up competition for Australian sorghum and barley.

“US prices have become cheap enough to work, despite the tariff, which is telling of its need to move stocks.

“The current environment allows Australia to compete at recent values, and we will need to see the remaining tariff drop off to really change the game on pricing today.”

With the exception of Central Queensland, where planting occurs post-Christmas to avoid flowering in summer, Australia’s sorghum is in the ground.

“Moisture has been adequate recently, but some nice rain on the forecast will really solidify production prospects.”


12 December, 2025