Australian wheat exports up 19% in July, led by Indonesia and Yemen

Australian wheat exports picked up by 19% in July after a drop in June, led by significantly increased shipments into Indonesia and Yemen, while barley and canola flow dropped, according to monthly data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), published on Friday September 6

September 10, 2024

By Masha Belikova

The country’s wheat export in July reached 1.5 million tonnes, 44% lower than the amount moved out of the country during the corresponding period a year earlier. But it still pushed total exports since the start of 2023-24 marketing year in October 2023 to 17.6 million tonnes.

The current estimate for export in 2023-24 was 22.465 million tonnes, according to the September report from ABARES.

Indonesia was the leading destination in July, increasing its imports almost threefold to 281,927 tonnes, followed by Yemen, whose take went up nearly four times to 219,340 tonnes.

Philippines imports dropped by 22% to 209,034 tonnes, South African purchases rose by 5% to 114,183 tonnes, and South Korean imports also went down by 26% to 111,573 tonnes.

Imports into the main Australian importer, China, in July were the lowest since February 2021 and totaled only 4,248 tonnes, with current demand remaining low amid an active purchasing program run by China in previous months.

Barley exports

Barley exports dropped by 57% in July to 311,187 tonnes, amid a drop in Chinese imports by 54% to 287,137 tonnes. This was almost the only significant destination and took the East Asian country’s share to 92% of the monthly total.

That was the lowest monthly export figure since October 2022.

The total barley export since October 2023 reached 7.28 million tonnes, while the revised estimate for barley exports in the 2023-24 marketing year was 8.32 million tonnes, according to ABARES.

Rapeseed exports

Canola (rapeseed) exports continued to decline in July, by 13% month on month, with 386,652 tonnes exported, also the lowest since October 2023.

Total canola export went to 5.4 million tonnes, while the total export figure projected for the 2023-24 marketing year was 6.18 million tonnes.

The main export destinations for canola in July were the United Arabian Emirates, which increased its purchases by 260% to 152,384 tonnes, followed by Japan with 151,871 tonnes, a 17% rise month on month, and France with 59,075 tonnes, up from nil in June.

View our grains and oilseeds prices