2026 State of the Australian Grain Industry Report
2026 State of the Australian Grain Industry Report
This is the fourth State of the Australian Grain Industry, following similar reports published by GrainGrowers in 2011, 2016 and 2021. This report aims to provide a five-year overview of the grain industry’s performance, including the key opportunities and challenges facing the sector. Although developed by GrainGrowers, the intention of the report is that it be used industry-wide, as a useful ready-reckoner to the great grain industry.
What are the key findings?
64 million tonnesof wheat, barley, oilseeds, pulses and other grains are grown on average in Australia per year
$27 billionis the average annual value of production over the past five years
5 record yearsof grain production in the past six years
What does the report cover?
Structured around four key areas, the report explores Australian grain grown, grain growers, grain supply chains and grain markets. Each section provides a detailed overview of the state of the industry in 2026, along with key trends and risks and opportunities shaping the sector.
Report highlights
Australian grain grown
The mix of grains grown is evolving as Australian growers respond to changing market needs and seasonal conditions. What stands out, however, is the volume of crops grown over time is increasing much more than the area of land they are grown on. These productivity gains by Australian grain growers will become an increasingly important contributor to national and international food security.
Australian grain growers
There are 37,000 growers growing grain in Australia on 18,000 farms. The number of grain growers has reduced over time as farms increasingly consolidate into larger and more specialised grain production businesses. This increasing specialisation in the business of grain growing, together with sustained investment in research and innovation, is increasing the productivity of Australian grain farms.
Australian grain supply chains
Getting Australia’s increasing grain crop efficiently to market is essential for the industry’s competitiveness. Each year, approximately 60 million tonnes of grain is moved from 18,000 farms, sorted into multiple quality and specification gradings to meet customer needs, and transported to a variety of domestic and international customers.
Australian grain markets
Australia exports grain to over 50 countries and grows much more grain than it consumes each year. With grain products part of staple diets for humans and animals around the world, this makes the Australian grain industry a major contributor to domestic and regional food security.