In Central Queensland, the harvest for desi chickpeas, barley, & wheat has commenced. Crop quality is good with bulk vessel accumulators for chickpeas chasing tonnages with strong numbers into Mackay and Gladstone ports. We should start to see volume chickpeas harvest from SE Qld in second half October.

Meanwhile, in Victoria & South Australia, frost damage has led to significant lowering of crop production estimates in cereals, canola and lentils. Frost damage is still being assessed by growers and industry and is expected to be significant (about 30-40% expected damages in affected areas). This past week there has been 5-10mm of rain in cropping regions of South Australia and Victoria which were not enough to allow recovery from frost damages. We will need to have at least 20-30mm in next 2 weeks to restore some potential in the lentil crops damaged by frost.

Similarly, some regions in southern New South Wales have also been affected by frost damage but they have received between 15mm-40mm of rain the past week which will reverse some damage into later sown crops.

Australian wheat demand is strong this week as SEA millers showing keen interest for new crop purchase, as we heard new crop of APW1 is being indicating at U$290/MT to CFR SEA major ports (traded U$287 into Thailand earlier this week), while ASW current crop prompt shipment trading at U$280/MT levels to CFR SEA major ports in containers.

The Chinese market is currently showing low demand for Australian red sorghum, with no indicative offers reported this week. Buying levels are U$285/MT to CFR Tianjin. Local sources indicate that Chinese-origin sorghum is experiencing good production levels & is priced similarly to imported sorghum. Additionally, there have been limited indicative offers in containers for Australian barley at high U$275/MT (O) to CFR China major ports, while buyers bidding at U$250/MT. New crop sorghum planting is underway but sorghum cropping regions in Queensland needs a good 40mm+ rainfall event for larger area to be planted. October is the start of the northern wet season.

As per latest update (26/09) from Bureau of Meteorology Australia: October to December forecast –

  • Rainfall is likely (60 to 80% chance) to be above average for much of Australia.
  • Rainfall is likely to be within the typical seasonal range across parts of western WA and the southern NT.
  • There is an increased chance of unusually high rainfall for much of Queensland, parts of south-eastern SA including the Riverland region, western Victoria and eastern Tasmania.

Pakistani buyers are showing interest in Australian desi chickpeas, with reports of two vessels being booked at U$835/MT – (Oct/FH Nov) & U$825/MT full Nov to CFR Karachi & in containers offers for CHKM – U$880/MT to CFR Karachi. Heard that TZ chickpeas trade reported at U$840/MT (O) in containers.  Australian Lentils demand is relatively flat, with offers hearing at U$760-65/MT (N/D) – CFR Karachi in containers on back of reduced crop estimates from Australia.

Indian market has seen slow in the demand for Australian desi chickpeas and red lentils this week, with hearing trade offers Australian CHK1(24/25) at $850-55/MT (O/N); at U$815-820/MT (N/D) to CFR NS/Mundra; Australian red lentils NIP1/HAL1 – at U$760/MT (N/D) – CFR Kolkata in containers. Hearing Canadian Crimson2 offers at U$705/MT in bulk & at U$735/MT for containers to CFR Kolkata (O) & for CFR NS/Mundra at U$665/MT in bulk & at U$695/MT in containers. Hearing TZ desi chickpeas offers at U$850/MT to CFR NS/Mundra.

Bangladeshi buyers showing low interest for Australian desi chickpeas & red lentils at the moment, with hearing trade offers for CHK1(24/25) at U$815-20/MT (N/D) to CFR Chittagong in containers.

Egyptian buyers showing interest for Australian lupins and faba beans this week, with target buying levels for large fabas at U$465-70/MT & Albus Lupins at U$530-35/MT to CFR Damietta in containers.

Lack of participation from Nepal buyers for Australian desi chickpeas & red lentils, with offers hearing CHK1(24/25) at high U$900/MT to ICD Birgunj (O/N) in containers.

DM us for price indication & firm offers for Australian Grains, Pulses & Oilseeds

Kind Regards