Sorghum

NSW sorghum production lifted to 850,000 tonnes
Average yields were well-above the 5 year average
Australian exports were a near-record 2.7 million tonnes

Sorghum production rebounded well this year, with good yields across the state. Plantings were slightly below year ago levels. Good soil moisture profiles lifted the summer crop on the whole, with areas that receiving rain achieving high yields. Prices were lower over the year, with demand from China subdued through late 2024, before record monthly volumes were exported late in the financial year. GVP is estimated to reach $306 million in 2024-25, a 5% increase over 2023-24.

Production

NSW sorghum production was 850,000 tonnes in 2024-25, up 9% on last year following a good season. Plantings were down slightly on last year with the record winter crop and dry conditions at the beginning of the season restricting plantings⁹⁷, but good conditions over the year helped at flowering and in the grain filling phase. The past 5 seasons have collectively been the best in a decade, with the 5-year average of 785,800 tonnes for NSW the highest since 2012-13.

NSW accounted for 32% of Australian production, which reached 2.7 million tonnes. NSW yields averaged 4.7 tonnes per hectare across the state in 2024-25, exceeding the 5-year average of 4.4t/ha. Good conditions through the season allowed Queensland to have good yields too, with an average of 4.5 tonnes/hectare statewide. This was the highest in over a decade, which allowed production to exceed 1.8 million tonnes despite relatively low plantings.

The most recently available data at the regional level (for 2023-24), shows that Moree and the Liverpool Plains were the major growing regions in the state¹⁹. Yields in the Quirindi region were nearly 6 tonnes/hectare., the highest of the significant regions and 195,735 tonnes produced. Nationwide the Moree region produced the most sorghum, with 293,812 tonnes produced. Wambo in the Western Downs region was the next largest region in Australia, having produced 273,692 tonnes.

NSW Sorghum Production and Area Planted

Production ('000 t)
Area ('000 ha) (RHS)

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Production and Yield by SA2 Region 2023-24

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Price

On the whole, sorghum prices were down compared to 2023-24, with ABARES reporting a yearly average of $360/t in 2024-25⁵. This was down 14% on the 2023-24 average of $420/t.

Australian export prices averaged $431/t over the year, down from $483/tonne in 2023-24.¹⁵⁵ Strong demand for feed grains cushioned the fall in local prices.

On a monthly basis, the market bottomed out for the year in November and December, as the winter crop harvest was at its peak. At this time Chinese buyers were out of the market and alternative markets purchase far smaller volumes in comparison.¹⁵⁰

Local sorghum prices peaked in May 2025, after the conclusion of the summer crop harvest. Shipping delays due to ex Tropical Cyclone (TC) Alfred pushed the shipping program out to July. Ex TC Alfred brought heavy rainfall to some regions ahead of harvest, causing quality concerns and encouraging bids for higher quality sorghum to lift as a result.¹⁵⁰ Higher demand for Australian sorghum from China has been another factor that has lifted prices over 2025.

Sorghum Local and Export Prices

Export Price
Local Price

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Trade and Macroeconomic Conditions

NSW sorghum exports were $85 million in 2024-25, a 7% increase over the previous year. The majority of NSW’s sorghum production is exported, however, due to proximity to Queensland ports, much of NSW’s sorghum is transported to Queensland, exported and then recorded as “Queensland exports.” Based on NSW ‘s share of total Australian production, NSW sorghum production would represent the equivalent of $384 million in exports.

Australian sorghum exports reached $1.2 billion, a 38% increase over the previous year. Strong volumes underpinned the growth by value, with volumes up by 53% to a record 2.5 million tonnes. Sorghum exports reached a monthly record in May 2025 with 530,630 tonnes exported. Australia has benefited from higher demand from China, which has purchased 92% of total sorghum exports¹⁷⁵. Kenya and Taiwan were other major buyers, however each purchased less than 100,000 tonnes in the past financial year.

Sorghum has been subject to trade disruptions with Australia one of the beneficiaries in the market. Chinese retaliatory tariffs in response to US tariff announcements led to a 95% drop in US sorghum exports to China in early 2025, creating opportunities for Australia as another major exporter.¹⁵³ The United States has traditionally been the largest global exporter of sorghum, with China the largest market. In early 2025 the US has needed to find alternative markets for sorghum, such as Mexico and Spain. Argentina has been the only other country to export significant volumes of sorghum to China over 2025, but is well behind Australia.

China and the United States held talks in late July to work towards an agreement, which may restart Chinese demand for US sorghum.

Outlook

Favourable soil moisture profiles in northern NSW are likely to ensure a good sorghum crop next year. ABARES latest forecasts indicate an above-average crop for NSW, of around 830,000 tonnes. The national forecast is currently 2.4 million tonnes with below-average yields.

The ongoing trade disruptions between the US and China have led to China looking for other suppliers, with the United States the largest world exporter of the grain. In November 2024 there was an announcement that China would allow sorghum imports from Brazil ¹⁵¹, however Brazil has used sorghum for domestic consumption and has only exported small volumes in 2025.¹⁷⁵

In September 2025 there was another announcement of progress toward Chinese imports of sorghum from Brazil.¹⁵⁴ Brazil’s crop in 2024-25 was 6 million tonnes ¹⁷⁷, having grown significantly in recent years. With the United States historically the largest exporter to China by far, trade disruptions have created openings for other countries.

At the same time, if a compromise is eventually reached between the US and China (as the US has achieved with other jurisdictions like the EU), then the US is likely to regain at least partial access to the Chinese sorghum market. In this event, Australia is likely to see its market share in China fall and/or see export prices decline.