Australia: Malting barley shipments up 37% in July

Australia exported 633,879 tonnes of barley and 400,469t of sorghum in July, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Feed barley exports for July totalled 302,528t, down 42 percent from the 519,651t shipped in June.

China on 257,727t was the major destination for July shipped feed barley, with Japan on 33,708t followed by Thailand on 4606t the second and third-biggest markets.

On malting, July shipments at 331,351t were up 37pc from the June total of 242,034t.

China was the major destination, taking 70pc, or 233,377t, of the total, followed by Mexico on 34,800t and Vietnam on 33,109t.

Reflecting the availability new-crop out of Central Queensland, sorghum exports in July were up 68pc from the June total of 240,219t.

China on 393,611t was the destination for 98pc of July sorghum shipments, with Taiwan on 4818t and The Philippines on 1897t the second and third-biggest markets respectively for the month.

Compass Grain director Sam Roache said China-focused barley exports into July continued to track strongly, and shipping stems indicate close to 500,000t will show up for August.

“Another malting barley shipment to Mexico shows that we remain cheap enough to attract at least some of the additional demand we established over the China tariff period,” Mr Roache said of July shipments.

“Vietnam continues as another growing staple on the malting, and Japan remains ever reliable with a feed barley shipment.”

September exports of barley are expected to be well below those of August to reflect very tight stocks as opposed to reduced demand.

“We have seen significant buying from China and others for the period, and an uptick in container sales in lieu of bulk availability.”

Looking ahead, Mr Roache said buying from China looks to be pushing into new-crop slots, with a significant program already in place for Australian cargoes.

“Importantly, Australia-China relations continue to be strong, and barley has a very good demand profile into China at current values.

“Australian prices remain very competitive versus European and Black Sea alternatives, which continue to squeeze and push up Middle East prices into Q4 2025.

Mr Roache said Black Sea barley market dynamics have been changed by some regional moves, including Turkiye being expected to import around 950,000t of barley this season, up 700,000t from the previous.

Australia looks likely to have plenty of new-crop barley to offer from the shipping year which kicks off next month.

“The market is widely adopting a record barley production number or close, which is well supported by the recovery in Victoria and South Australia, along with the outstanding late season conditions in much of Western Australia.”

A bumper and possibly record Australian crop is underpinning overall growth of more than 7Mt in global barley exporters.

“We will need China to keep up the early buying pace to move the crop.”

Mr Roache said barley in the Australian domestic feed market was already losing ground to lower-grade wheat, freeing up more for export.

“Barley also remains a relative price sell for growers in some areas and states today, which is likely to continue given lower-grade wheat price dynamics.”

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