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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

This publication contains estimates of the quantity of grain stored in grain storage facilities operated by bulk grain handling companies and major grain traders in Australia as at 31 December 2003.


KEY POINTS

Following the harvesting of most of Australia's 2003-04 winter crop, the total quantity of grain held in storage facilities operated by bulk grain handling companies and major grain traders at 31 December 2003 was 31,260,100 tonnes, a seven fold increase over stock levels at 30 September 2003. Over the three month period to 31 December 2003, wheat stocks increased by the same magnitude, rising from 2,841,200 tonnes to 20,509,300 tonnes. Barley stocks increased by a factor greater than eight, up from 919,400 tonnes at 30 September to 7,843,500 tonnes by end of December. The quantity of oats held in storage facilities operated by bulk handling companies and major grain traders increased seven fold to 288,700 tonnes in the three months to 31 December from 39,500 tonnes recorded at the end of September 2003.

Total grain stocks held by bulk handling companies and major grain traders at 31 December 2003 were up 81% or 13,963,500 tonnes on the quantity stored at the same time last year, following the previous season's drought affected crop.

	Dec. 2002	March 2003	June 2003	Sept. 2003	Dec. 2003
	'000 tonnes	'000 tonnes	'000 tonnes	'000 tonnes	'000 tonnes

Wheat
For milling	9,633.6	7,379.1	4,606.5	2,265.2	17,084.0
For feed and other purposes	2,555.4	1,858.5	1,361.5	576.0	3,425.1
Total wheat	12,189.0	9,237.7	5,968.0	2,841.2	20,509.3
Barley
For malting	1,837.7	1,274.1	838.5	502.4	2,968.8
For feed and other purposes	1,632.5	1,232.4	872.9	417.1	4,874.7
Total barley	3,470.2	2,506.5	1,711.4	919.4	7,843.5
Oats	127.9	82.8	64.2	39.5	288.7
Triticale	45.8	39.7	19.9	6.3	83.0
Other feed grains, pulses and oilseeds	1,463.7	1,121.2	843.8	521.7	2,535.5
Total all grains	17,296.6	12,987.9	8,607.3	4,328.1	31,260.1