Note 07/10/2009: A correction to the previously advised change to the content and title of the September 2009 issue of Stocks of Grain Held by Bulk Grain Handling Companies and Grain Traders, Australia (cat. no. 7122.0.55.001).
This publication will not change from September 2009, as previously advised, except to include data on stocks of barley and other grains held in bulk storage facilities. Stocks and use of barley and other grains by businesses using wheat grain will be released with Wheat Use and Stocks, Australia (cat. no. 7307.0).

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

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

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION

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

Commencing with the September 2009 issue, this publication will include bulk grain storage data for barley, other grains and pulses, as well as wheat. To reflect the change in scope of the collection, the title of this publication will change to "Stocks and Use of Grains and Pulses, Australia".

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.


KEY POINTS

At the end of August 2009, Australia's bulk storage of wheat grain was estimated at 4.5 million tonnes. Total milling grain stored by bulk grain handlers was 3.5 million tonnes, 23% less than at the end of July 2009. Total feed grain stored by bulk grain handlers was 1.0 million tonnes, 21% less than at the end of July 2009.

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
(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.

INQUIRIES

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