Browse Data and Analysis

Australian winter crops have had very challenging seasonal conditions for MY 2024/25, including low soil moisture at planting, below-average rainfall, and frost damage.

Total Saudi wheat imports for 2024/25 are forecast to reach 4.25 MMT, an increase of 2 percent over marketing year (MY) 2023/24.

A tale of two is emerging for wheat and barley growers in Australia. Those in the eastern states have entered the MY 2024/25 planting season with good soil moisture and a particularly good fall break with widespread rains in the first week of April.

A tale of two is emerging for wheat and barley growers in Australia. Those in the eastern states have entered the MY 2024/25 planting season with good soil moisture and a particularly good fall break with widespread rains in the first week of April.

With the development of several billion-dollar projects and nearly 30 million visitors a year, the future for U.S. grain exports is bright. Post anticipates Saudi rice imports to increase approximately five percent over the next several years due to expansions in the food service sector.

El Niño conditions for Australia remain present, but this has been pushed aside in late spring and early summer after the eastern states received above-average rainfalls. This situation has prompted a rise in the sorghum production forecast for MY 2023/24 to 1.8 million metric tons (MMT), and the rice production forecast remains strong at 522,000 metric tons (MT) with the support of ample irrigation water.

Wheat and barley crops have had a great start to the season, with high soil moisture reserves and good rains in the fall. But rainfall has been well below average from July to September 2023.

The General Food Security Authority (GFSA), an agency of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), purchased approximately 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) of locally produced wheat in MY2022/23.

Good conditions at planting and during the early growth phase for wheat and barley production have prevailed for marketing year (MY) 2023/24. However, after a record setting winter crop in MY 2022/23, Australia is expected to produce a strong but more subdued grain crop in MY 2023/24.

After a record setting winter crop in marketing year (MY) 2022/23, Australia is expected to produce a more subdued, but still strong grain crop in MY 2023/24.

Recent available data indicates that Saudi Arabia imported approximately 2.7 million metric tons (MMT) of barley in the first six months of MY 2022/23 (July – December 2022), an increase of approximately 11% compared to the same period last year (2.46 MMT).

Australia is set for a third consecutive record grain crop, and strong exports. Wheat production is estimated to have reached a record 37 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 2022/23, while barley is estimated to achieve 13.5 MMT of production, the fourth largest on record.