WA is the major source of Australia’s exported canola. Photo: Minginew Irwin Group

AUSTRALIA exported 1.15 million tonnes (Mt) of canola in the half year to June 30, with China, The Netherlands and Germany the biggest customers by far, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

June exports at 60,487t were down 63 per cent from the May total of 165,569t, and represent the tailing off in shipments seen mid year, when European crushers switch to local supplies and Australian stocks run down.

The biggest shipment month for Australia’s 2019-20 canola was March, when 338,393t was shipped, and more than half went to The Netherlands.

Drought in New South Wales last year meant eastern Australia had a very small export surplus, and South Australia and Western Australia have most of the bulk canola vessels in the current marketing year.

WA bulk handler CBH Group has advised it has 29,354t of canola at its four ports as at August 12, and export, and port stocks in SA and Victoria are believed to be even smaller.

According to the latest Lachstock Consulting Vessel Activity Report based on analysis of ABS data, WA shipped 61pc of Australia’s Jan-Jun canola exports, with 24pc from SA, 15pc from Victoria, and only 1327t from NSW.

Table 1: Australia’s January-June canola exports. Source: ABS