Harvest is Almost Complete, Another National Barley Exportable Surplus

Harvest of the 24/25 winter crop is all but done.

Most areas of Australia have completed their harvesting operations, except for small parts of the Southern zones of Western Australia, Eastern areas of South Australia, Western District of Victoria and Tasmania. In these areas, headers are sweeping through the remainder of crops and should finish up in January on the mainland and February in Tasmania.

Utilizing the methodology identified in last month’s MaltNews and adjusting ABARES WA crop up (by 2.5mmt!) and SA crop down (by 1.25mmt), its forecasted there is less than 1% of the crop left standing.

A review of current estimates and harvest reports has Australia on track to produce 12.2mmt of barley this season.

Considering the excellent season in Queensland and most of NSW, the amazingly productive season in Western Australia, the mixed season in Victoria and a disappointing season in South Australia, MaltNews has malting production to reach 3.8mmt this season.

If this is accurate, it will provide an exportable surplus of 2.6mmt and each state with enough supply to satisfy the maltsters.