Producers sold 61.1 million tonnes of winter broadacre crops in 2024-25, according to the latest insights from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released today.
Trent Lind, ABS head of agriculture statistics, said: 'Winter crop production rose 22 per cent in 2024-25. This increase led to a 20 per cent rise in the value of winter crops sold, coming in at $22.5 billion dollars for local producers.' Mr Lind also noted that roughly 2 per cent of the reported increase in value reflects the addition of faba bean and field pea statistics, which are being published for the first time using the ABS' modernised approach.
'Even with the significant growth in 2024-25, the tonnage and value of produce sold remains lower than the record highs seen in the 2022-23 financial year. The bumper crops that year saw 68.6 million tonnes sold at a local value of $26.3 billion.'
While wheat, barley and canola continue to account for most winter crops sold (91 per cent combined), chickpeas saw the largest rise with 2.0 million tonnes sold in 2024-25. This is up from 0.5 million tonnes sold the year before.
'Local producers sold $1.7 billion worth of chickpeas in in 2024-25, up from $0.4 billion in 2023-24,' Mr Lind said.
'The huge growth for chickpea production was driven by ideal growing conditions and higher international demand following India's temporary suspension of tariffs on the crop.'
Moree Surrounds was the highest producing area for both chickpeas and wheat, also leading total grains production.
'Area specific insights for crop production, including two new crops in faba beans and field peas, are now available as we continue to modernise our agricultural statistics program,' Mr Lind said.
'For example, we know Australian producers sold 733 thousand tonnes of faba beans, roughly enough to make 4.9 billion serves of curry.'
Find more data on winter crop production and value on our topics page.
