Australia May grain stocks down 13 percent to 9.2 million tonnes

Grain stored by Australian bulk handlers and users as of May 31 totalled 9.2 million tonnes, down 13 percent or 1.4 million tonnes on- month, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported Tuesday (July 7).

Wheat stocks held by bulk handlers as of May 31 of 8.7 million tonnes fell 14 percent on- month and comprised 78 percent or 6.8 million tonnes of milling wheat, with the balance graded feed wheat, it reported.

In May, 1.35 million tonnes was exported, down 17 percent on- month, to take total exports since Oct. 1 to 9.71 million tonnes, of which Western Australia accounted for 54 percent, South Australia 15 percent and New South Wales 16 percent, with other exports sourced from the other two mainland states, the bureau reported in a monthly Wheat Use and Stocks publication.

Wheat used domestically in May of 393,300 tonnes rose 1.2 percent on -month and took total domestic use since Oct. 1 to 3.26 million tonnes, of which New South Wales accounted for 45 percent and Victoria 24 percent, it reported.

Total wheat exported or used in May of 1.74 million tonnes took the total since Oct. 1 to 12.97 million tonnes.

Wheat committed for domestic use or export as of May 31 of 4.38 million tonnes rose 4 percent on month, and of this total, 81 percent or 3.53 million tonnes was contracted for export, with the balance contracted for domestic use, it reported.

The government's chief commodities forecaster, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, estimated national wheat production last crop year ended March 31 at 21.4 million tonnes.

The Bureau of Statistics reported that the current scope and coverage of the data accounts for most of Australia's wheat grain stored, used and committed.