Barley the Australian grain commodity most reliant on sales to China

THE FALLOUT from a Chinese ban on exports varies markedly across the various classes of grain commodity. A Rural Bank report, investigating China's share of Australian agriculture exports in light of the ongoing trade tension, found the barley industry, which has suffered from Chinese tariffs implemented in May, is the most exposed to China, with 66 per cent of its export value coming from the Asian giant. In contrast, a similar ban would barely cause a ripple in the pulse industry. Rural Bank found just 2 per cent of export value and just 1pc of export volume in the pulse sector, which is heavily geared towards subcontinental and Middle Eastern markets, went to China. China's decision to ban Australia barley was not without cost to its own industry. Rural Bank found Australia supplied 21 per cent of China's barley by volume and 17pc by value. Wheat and canola are also relatively unexposed to China, with Chinese sales account for 8 and 6 per cent of value respectively. Of the ...