CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — Despite mixed weather conditions in Australia’s primary wheat growing areas, total production in 2024-25 is expected to be up 3 million tonnes from the prior year’s estimate, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Production is estimated at 29 million tonnes, a 9% increase from the 10-year average. The estimate is based on a larger planted area, partly at the expense of some failed canola crops that were replanted to wheat.
New South Wales and Queensland growers had above-average to well above-average soil moisture in early April 2024, but most wheat-producing regions, particularly in the more southern areas, had below-average soil moisture at planting.
Exports in 2024-25 are expected to increase slightly to 21 million tonnes.
For the 2023-24 market year, exports have been strong, reaching 14.9 million tonnes from October 2023 to May 2024. The pace of exports is expected to ease in the coming months as import nations become more at ease with Australia’s improved wheat production prospects, the FAS said.
