As Australia’s harvest gets underway - AHDB reviews current market conditions. There is a lot of talk about reliance on Australian crops this year, across the world. With wheat supplies short, the world needs a decent Australian crop to aid supply through to harvest 2022. The UK is tracking world markets and therefore any impact Australian crops have on global supply, will in turn impact UK prices.  

According to USDA data, 2021/22 global wheat stocks are 35% of annual demand (stocks-to-use), the lowest since 2015/16. Currently, the USDA estimate Australian wheat production at 31.5Mt, the third highest on record. This comes in below the ABARES forecast of 32.6Mt, the second largest on record. Crop size is a way off being confirmed but early yields suggest Australia is on track for near record production.

Supply of wheat from elsewhere in the world has tightened. The Canadian crop, a key exporter, is the smallest since 2007/08. There are also reduced exports from the US and Russia too. Usually, the US is the third largest and Russia the largest wheat exporter.

Because of this tightness, reliance on Australian exports is greater than usual for global supplies. Sources suggest that Australian ports are getting booked up for the coming months, assuming a good crop from the current harvest.

However, a La Niña weather event is predicted for November, which tends to bring above-average spring/summer rainfall for Australia (ABARES). Increased rainfall could affect both harvest (short-term) and boat loading in the longer-term.  

This said, the current outlook for November rainfall shows the East of Australia is most likely to be affected. Whilst the East is important for production, Western Australia is the largest exporting state and forecasts suggest better weather.

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So, weather effects will be one to keep an eye on but even with a bumper crop, freight rates will likely keep prices elevated. Sea freight rates and charges are up between 300-375% from pre-COVID levels, according to an Australian Dairy Products Federation spokeswoman. If this continues, grain prices could remain supported regardless of a large Australian wheat crop. But, if wheat yields or quality are affected by potential wet weather there could be a double whammy for global wheat prices. There is however, a question around how much further markets could lift. There are record South American maize crops on the cards, while demand could be curbed if prices were to increase much further.