17/11/2009 Note: This web page replaced 17/11/2009. The units of measurement for barley and selected other grains and pulses have been corrected and the original table replaced in the publication tables. The amended data can be found in the Downloads tab of this publication.

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE	Release Date
October 2009	23 November 2009
November 2009	21 December 2009

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

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

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: The Director, Environment and Agriculture Business Statistics Centre, Australian Bureau of Statistics, GPO Box 66, Hobart TAS 7001. Alternatively, email: adrian.bugg@abs.gov.au, or phone (03) 6222 5850.


CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

From September 2009, in addition to the monthly wheat estimates, quarterly estimates for barley, and other grains and pulses are published in a separate table.


KEY POINTS

At the end of September 2009, Australia's bulk storage of wheat grain was estimated at 3.4 million tonnes, more than double the amount stored at the end of September 2008. Total milling wheat grain stored by bulk grain handlers was 2.6 million tonnes, and total feed grain stored by bulk grain handlers was 800 thousand tonnes.

STOCKS OF WHEAT GRAIN STORED BY BULK GRAIN HANDLERS, at month ending
		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
2008
	30 September	219	145	81	220	867	1 532	1 313	219
	31 December	4 492	556	1 611	1 704	6 127	14 490	12 310	2 180
2009
	31 March(d)	3 685	466	1 327	1 151	4 838	11 467	8 918	2 549
	30 April	3 412	447	1 286	879	4 084	10 108	7 799	2 309
	31 May	3 036	378	1 139	671	3 502	8 726	6 778	1 948
	30 June	2 548	302	973	519	2 656	6 998	5 416	1 582
	31 July	2 108	260	874	511	2 065	5 818	4 503	1 315
	31 August	1 730	168	690	362	1 544	4 494	3 452	1 042
	30 September	1 232	110	531	297	1 251	3 421	2 645	776
(a) Wheat grain is graded by quality.
(b) Includes ACT.
(c) Includes Tas.
(d) From March 2009, the Grain Handlers Stocks Survey (GHSS) has been conducted on a monthly basis. Refer to paragraph 3 in the Explanatory Notes.

STOCKS OF BARLEY AND OTHER GRAINS STORED BY BULK GRAIN HANDLERS, Australia
	Wheat	Barley	Selected other grains and pulses(a)
Quarter	'000 t	'000 t	'000 t
September 2009	3 421	813	1 199
(a) Includes sorghum, triticale, oats, maize, field peas, lupins and faba beans.

INQUIRIES

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