SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
WHEAT GRAIN STORED
Total wheat grain stored by bulk grain handlers and users at the end of August 2009 was 4.9 million tonnes, a decrease of 1.4 million tonnes from July 2009.
At the end of August 2009, the amount of wheat grain stored by bulk grain handlers was 4.5 million tonnes, of which 3.5 million tonnes was graded for milling and 1.0 million tonnes was graded for feed.
Wheat grain stored by wheat grain users at the end of August 2009 decreased by 8% from July 2009 to 378 thousand tonnes.
WHEAT GRAIN USED
The estimate of wheat grain used in August 2009 was 1.6 million tonnes, an increase of 14% from last month.
Wheat grain exports in August 2009 increased 194 thousand tonnes, to 1.2 million tonnes. The largest exporting state continued to be Western Australia (493 thousand tonnes) followed by New South Wales (312 thousand tonnes).
Domestic usage in August 2009 was 377 thousand tonnes, an increase of 8 thousand tonnes from last month. Domestic use of wheat grain continued to be highest in New South Wales at 169 thousand tonnes.
Nationally, the total wheat grain used since the end of September 2008 was 18.0 million tonnes.
WHEAT GRAIN COMMITTED
At 31 August 2009, there were 2.9 million tonnes of wheat grain committed for domestic use within Australia or for export.
Of the total wheat grain committed in Australia, 2.2 million tonnes (75%) was contracted for export, and 744 thousand tonnes (25%) was contracted for domestic use.