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Home//News Hub // Sorghum Update: Growth, Challenges and Global trends.
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Sorghum Update: Growth, Challenges and Global trends.

By Paige Hill

16th January, 2024

Abundant December rainfall has led to prosperous sorghum crops in the Darling Downs, with expectations of at least average yields, challenging the initial forecast of 21% decline in sorghum planted area for 2023–24 due to well-below-average soil moisture levels. In certain regions, farmers have opted for sorghum over cotton, driven by the availability of water and the sorghum plant's resilience. While the majority of crops were planted in December, some early planted sorghum patches faced challenges due to insufficient rainfall in October.

Many growers were discouraged from planting during the early window (September to mid-November). Additionally, a below-average spring rainfall outlook is expected to have contributed to this decline. Despite staggered progress the majority of sorghum crops are growing well whereas in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland earliest harvests are expected to start at the end of this month. Many Central Queensland growers are still planting which could see harvest in this region continue well into June or July. 

ABARES forecasts the current sorghum crop at 1.5 million tonnes, but potential upside exists if northern region storms persist during the growing season. The latest USDA report, released on Friday, reveals a forecasted global coarse grain production increase of 11.9 million tons for 2023/24, totaling 1,513.9 million tons. Key global coarse grain trade changes for 2023/24 include elevated corn exports for Turkey, reduced exports for Brazil and India, increased corn imports for Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, and decreased imports for the EU, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. The United States anticipates higher sorghum exports, with increased sorghum imports expected for China. China's corn feed and residual use are raised based on a larger crop. Traders indicate that China is likely to be the primary destination for new-crop sorghum, while the domestic market shows a preference for wheat and barley unless sorghum prices decrease significantly.

       


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