The Port of Melbourne has revealed what its top export commodity is for the past year, with a certain commodity topping the charts for the fifth straight year.
With agricultural exports continuing to play a vital role in Victoria’s economy, grains and pulses remain as the top export commodity for the port.
According to Port of Melbourne’s latest trade data from Financial Year 2025 (FY25), 3.7 million tonnes of grains and pulses were exported through the port, accounting for nearly one-third of total overseas export volume.
Rebounding strongly from the drought-induced lows of FY19, grain exports recorded a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21 per cent over the five-year period from FY20 to FY25.
The grains and pulses commodity category comprises wheat, barley, pulses, canola, malt, and cereals and oats. Notably, wheat continues to lead export volumes, with 2.02 million tonnes of wheat leaving the port in FY25.
Similarly, in containerised cargo, wheat remained Port of Melbourne’s single largest export commodity by volume. In FY25, 39,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) of wheat were exported through the Port of Melbourne.
A significant trend observed over the last five years is south-east Asia’s emergence as a key importer of Australian grain and pulses. In FY25, 1.4 million tonnes, comprising 40 per cent of the port’s grain exports, were destined for south-east Asia – the highest tonnage ever recorded.
South-east Asian nations account for four of the port’s top five grain and pulses export markets in FY25, with Indonesia (nine per cent of total grain exports), Vietnam (nine per cent), the Philippines (seven per cent) and Thailand (seven per cent) absorbing substantial volumes of the port’s grain exports. Wheat, in particular, was the top commodity exported to south-east Asia.
Similarly, South Asia – especially India and Bangladesh – has grown in significance in recent years, importing notable quantities of lentils and canola.
Overall, China continues to dominate as the single largest importer of the port’s grains, representing 11 per cent of total grain and pulses exported through Port of Melbourne.
“Grains and pulses continue to be our leading export commodity, at 33 per cent of total exports through the port. We are proud to play a role in supporting the export of south-east Australia’s key agricultural products and look forward to continuing our work with grain growers, exporters, and supply chain partners,” Port of Melbourne head of trade and supply chain Mark Bergamasco says.
“Their commitment to delivering high-quality grains to global markets makes a significant contribution to the prosperity of our state and national economy.”
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