ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication contains estimates of the quantity of grain held in grain storage facilities operated by the major bulk grain handling companies and grain traders in Australia as at 31 December 2008.


KEY POINTS

The quantity of grain held in storage facilities operated by the major bulk grain handling companies at 31 December 2008 was 22.1 million tonnes. This is an increase of 42% over the December 2007 level of grain stocks with the major contributor wheat up nearly 5.5 million tonnes, a 60% increase. Also, combined stocks of oats, triticale, sorghum, other feed grains and pulses are over double the December 2007 level while oilseeds are 51% higher. Stocks of barley however are down 7%.

	Dec. 2008
	'000 tonnes

Wheat
For milling	12 309.6
For feed and other purposes	2 180.3
Total wheat	14 489.9
Barley
For malting	1 796.5
For feed and other purposes	2 613.0
Total barley	4 409.5
Grains other than wheat and barley
Oats, triticale, sorghum, other feed grains and pulses	1 738.1
Oilseeds	1 472.5
Total grains other than wheat and barley	3 210.6
Total all grains	22 110.1

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Note: The reference period relates to the last day of the month.


NOTES

GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT

1 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.


RELATED PUBLICATIONS

2 Current publications and other products released by the ABS are listed in the Catalogue of Publications and Products (cat. no. 1101.0). The Catalogue is available from any ABS office or the ABS web site. The ABS also issues a daily Release Advice on the web site which details products to be released in the week ahead.


ABS DATA AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

3 As well as the statistics included in this and related publications, the ABS may have other relevant data available on request. Inquiries should be made to David Ketley on 02 6252 5341.

ROUNDING

4 Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between sums of the component items and totals.