Australia: Grain and Feed Update

Australian wheat and barley producers faced challenges during difficult seasonal conditions in most major production regions. Given the circumstances, overall wheat and barley production is estimated to respectively reach the third and fifth-largest levels on record. Wheat exports are forecast to reach the fourth-highest on record, rising by 26 percent to 24 million metric tons (MMT) for MY 2024/25, and barley exports are forecast at 5.5 MMT. Sorghum and rice producers are experiencing highly favorable production conditions in MY 2024/25. Sorghum production is forecast at 2.2 MMT, similar to the prior year, almost all of which will be exported. Rice production is forecast at 375,000 metric tons (MT), a decline of 16 percent from the prior year estimate. Conditions favored a bigger planted area of rice, but industry intervened prior to planting to target a smaller level of production. Australia is forecast to be a net importer of rice in MY 2024/25, with imports of 260,000 MT and 230,000 MT of exports.