Australia is projected to harvest 31 million tons of wheat in 2026/27, according to a USDA attaché.

Australia is expected to produce 31.0 million tons of wheat in the 2026/27 crop year, according to a new report from the attaché. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Canberra. The estimate surpasses the previous forecast of 29.0 million tons and is 7% above the average of the last ten years. The projection for the harvested area was maintained at 11.8 million hectares. According to the report, the upward revision of production reflects the favorable weather conditions recorded at the beginning of the season, which raised the expectation of average national productivity. Despite the positive scenario so far, the USDA The document highlights that crop performance will still depend on weather conditions during the Australian spring. It warns that the possibility of an El Niño event, already signaled by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), represents a significant risk to production. Should the phenomenon intensify during the second half of 2026, drier-than-average conditions are expected in the main wheat-producing regions of eastern Australia, which could limit production potential. Domestically, wheat consumption is projected at 6.5 million tons, slightly below the revised estimate for 2025/26, although it remains above the historical average. According to the attaché, domestic demand continues to be supported mainly by the animal feed sector. More than half of the wheat destined for livestock is consumed by beef cattle feedlots, with additional demand coming from the milk, pig, and poultry production chains. In foreign trade, Australian wheat exports were estimated at 24.5 million tonnes in 2026/27, up from the previously projected 23.0 million tonnes. The revision reflects the prospect of increased exportable supply resulting from improved production. If confirmed, the estimate will represent an increase of 1.5 million tonnes compared to the 23.0 million tonnes shipped in 2025/26, although it will still remain below the record volumes recorded in the exceptionally productive harvests of recent years.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.