Grower Study Tour

Benefits to you

• Broaden your understanding: See where your grain is processed and consumed and learn about different global farming practices. 
• Understand your customer: Gain a unique insight into global grain markets and customer needs while learning how CBH builds and maintains relationships with key international customers. 
• Build on your network: Connect with growers and CBH employees from across WA and build lifelong friendships. 
• The trip of a lifetime: Immerse yourself in the cultural offerings of international destinations alongside other WA grain growers and CBH employees. 

Interested in attending this year’s tour?

Growers need a valid passport to participate, with at least 6 months validity from 14 September. 

Expressions of interest are open to all growers and will close 30 April 2025.

China

China is the world's second-largest economy and a major player in global trade. Its rapid economic growth over the past few decades has transformed it into a manufacturing and technological hub. 

China accounts for about 33 per cent of Australia’s total grain exports, with about 2-5 million tonnes of high-quality milling wheat, malting and feed barley, and oats exported from Western Australia each year. 

Over the past five years, China has seen a gradual increase in its domestic wheat crop, which currently produces about 140 million tonnes annually. Despite this, China still imports over 9.6 million tonnes of wheat each year. Low protein wheats are imported for steam buns, cakes and biscuit production, while high protein wheat is imported for breads and noodles, and blended with domestically grown wheat. 

China is the largest importer of barley in the world, with two distinct barley markets - malting and feed barley. It imports approximately 3.5 million tonnes barley annually for malting purposes. Traditionally, Australian barley has enjoyed a 60 – 70 per cent share of the malting and brewing markets in China.  As demand for animal feed continues to grow, the feed market remains highly competitive, with fluctuating demand. 

Demand for feed grains, including corn, barley and sorghum, into China is relatively stable at about 286 million tonnes per year. Last year, China’s domestic corn crop was 295 million tonnes. With government pressure to reduce feed grain imports and the highly price competitive nature of the feed grain market, less feed barley will be imported from Australia this year compared to last year.

CBH has long standing relationships with the main producers in the breakfast cereal and oat flake market who require premium quality Western Australian oats.  We traditionally have exported via shipping containers but have recently shipped bulk vessels as demand for milling oats increases. 

CBH Marketing & Trading meets regularly with Chinese customers in WA and abroad to strengthen the relationship and ensure we understand their grain quality and volume requirements.