7122.0.55.001 - Stocks of Grain Held by Bulk Handling Companies and Grain Traders, Australia, May 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/07/2011   
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NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE Release Date
June 2011 28 July 2011
July 2011 26 August 2011
August 2011 27 September 2011



ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication provides estimates of stocks of wheat grain held by bulk grain handlers. These estimates are compiled from the Grain Handlers Stocks Survey (GHSS) conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Stocks of barley and other grains and pulses are no longer collected. The final updated estimates appeared in the March 2011 issue. The publication of monthly data on stocks of wheat grain held by bulk handlers will continue unchanged.

For more detailed information on wheat use and stocks, see Wheat Use and Stocks, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0).

The ABS welcomes any comments from readers regarding the usefulness, range and quality of the statistics presented in this publication. Comments can be forwarded to: Environment and Agriculture Business Statistics Centre, Australian Bureau of Statistics, GPO Box 66, Hobart TAS 7001. Alternatively, email: agriculture.statistics@abs.gov.au, or phone (03) 6222 5939.


KEY POINTS

At the end of May 2011, Australia's bulk storage of wheat grain was estimated at 15.3 million tonnes. This represents a decrease of around 2.0 million tonnes (12%) of wheat grain stored when compared to April 2011. Stocks of wheat grain are up by 37% compared to May 2010.

All states reported decreases in stocks of wheat grain compared to April 2011. New South Wales had the most significant fall with 660 thousand tonnes. New South Wales and South Australia had the largest amounts of wheat grain stored by bulk grain handlers with 5.5 million tonnes and 3.7 million tonnes respectively.

The poor season and difficult harvest conditions contributed to a lower quality yield of wheat grain and this has continued from April into May 2011. Of the total wheat grain stored by bulk grain handlers, milling grade accounted for 8.4 million tonnes (55%) and feed grade 6.9 million tonnes (45%). This compares to 87% (9.7 million tonnes) for milling and 13% (1.4 million tonnes) for feed in May 2010.

STOCKS OF WHEAT GRAIN STORED BY BULK GRAIN HANDLERS, at month end

WHEAT GRAIN STORED BY STATE
WHEAT GRAIN STORED BY GRADE(a)
NSW(b)
Vic.(c)
Qld
SA
WA
Aust.
Milling
Feed
'000 t
'000 t
'000 t
'000 t
'000 t
'000 t
'000 t
'000 t

2009-10(d)
May
2 238
1 137
694
2 895
4 186
11 150
9 729
1 421
June
1 997
986
608
2 566
3 727
9 884
8 642
1 242
July
1 451
678
457
2 177
3 137
7 900
7 025
875
August
1 351
603
397
1 723
2 613
6 687
5 938
749
September(d)
972
487
320
1 393
1 943
5 115
4 530
585
2010-11(d)
October
567
300
193
898
1 482
3 440
3 066
374
November
2 687
218
1 105
906
3 534
8 450
6 316
2 134
December
5 974
2 048
1 217
4 044
4 927
18 210
11 308
6 902
January
7 825
3 426
1 150
5 415
4 346
22 162
12 468
9 694
February
7 010
3 343
1 066
5 105
3 847
20 371
11 551
8 820
March
6 661
3 085
929
4 589
3 476
18 740
10 280
8 460
April
6 169
3 162
838
4 229
2 909
17 307
9 487
7 820
May
5 509
2 912
772
3 747
2 355
15 295
8 354
6 941

(a) Wheat grain is graded by quality.
(b) Includes ACT.
(c) Includes Tas.
(d) The end of September is used to represent the closing stocks of wheat grain prior to the commencement of the next harvest period (October to September).



INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070.