Australia's crop exports were estimated at ***** billion Australian dollars in the fiscal year 2025. This was expected to decrease to approximately ***** billion Australian dollars in the 2026 financial year. Crop production in Australia Crop production in Australia is primarily located in three key regions: the southwest of Western Australia, the southeastern region covering Victoria and New South Wales, and coastal Queensland. These regions have favorable climates and fertile soils, making them ideal for crop cultivation. Wheat is the most prominent crop, covering the largest share of agricultural land. Alongside wheat, Australia cultivates various other essential crops, including barley, canola, cotton, sugarcane, and pulses such as chickpeas and lentils. Despite a recent dip, the crop price index has rebounded and shows a consistent upward trend, highlighting the sector's economic importance and its ability to adapt to market changes. Australia's crop exports Australia’s crop exports are essential to its agricultural trade and significantly contribute to the national economy. Australia's key crop export markets include China, Japan, and Vietnam. Although peaking in 2023, a decrease in the value of agricultural exports, which includes both crops and livestock, was expected for 2025. Despite this, Australia remains a major global supplier of vital crops, supported by its robust production capacity and high international demand.

In 2024, the gross value added (GVA) of the agriculture industry in Australia amounted to around 63.8 billion Australian dollars. The country produces and exports a diverse range of agricultural products including cattle, wheat, and milk, making agriculture an important economic sector of Australia.

This report describes a newly proposed method and dataset used by ABARES to measure output, input and total factor productivity in the Australian agriculture industry. We apply recently-developed statistical methods to a novel dataset, compiled from Australia's national account statistics and farm surveys. \r \r The results show agricultural productivity grew at 2.0 per cent a year between 1948-49 and 2013-14. This work provides a unique measure of the productivity performance of Australia's agriculture industry over time, and thereby provides insight into trends in farm performance and the effects of policy reforms.

This dataset presents final estimates of the gross values of agricultural commodities produced in Australia by Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) from the Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced (VACP) collection derived from the Agriculture Census of 2015-2016. Categories included in VACP are statistics on gross and local values of crops, livestock disposals and livestock products. Data is aggregated to 2011 ASGS SA2 boundaries. The Agricultural Census is conducted once every five years. The scope of the 2015-16 Agricultural Census was all businesses undertaking agricultural activity recorded on the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Business Register (ABSBR) above a minimum threshold applied to the estimated value of their agricultural operations. The threshold for the 2015-16 Agricultural Census was all agricultural businesses with an Estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO) of $40,000 or greater. This is a change from previous ABS Rural Environment and Agricultural Collections, where a EVAO threshold of $5,000 or greater was used. As a result of the change in scope, the estimates from the 2015-16 Agricultural Census will not be directly comparable to previously published Agricultural Censuses or annual Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodity Survey outputs. The 2015-16 Census final estimates are based on the achieved target response rate of 85% from an in-scope population of approximately 103,400 agricultural businesses. The estimates in this dataset are based on information obtained from agricultural businesses that responded to the 2015-16 Agricultural Census. However, since not all of the businesses that were selected provided data, the estimates are subject to sampling variability; that is, they may differ from the figures that would have been produced if information had been collected from all businesses. Most published estimates have relative standard errors (RSEs) less than 10%. For some states and territories with limited production of certain commodities, RSEs are greater than 10%. Estimates with an RSE greater than 50% are considered too unreliable for general use and hence have been removed from the data. This data is ABS data (catalogue number: 7503.0) used with permission from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. For more information on the dataset please visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Please note: Estimates with an RSE value greater than 50% and are considered too unreliable for general use and have been removed from the data

Abstract

The main purpose of the Agricultural Census (AC) is to provide benchmark information on the agriculture industry for small geographic areas. Furthermore, it is designed to support decision making and analysis by a wide variety of stakeholders across government, industry, the research sector and wider community by providing comprehensive high quality agricultural commodity production and activity data (including area and production for crops and area irrigated, number of livestock and number of producers for each commodity) at low levels of geographic disaggregation. The AC also enables updates to core statistical infrastructure as well as being the major source of commodity data used in the calculation of Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced (VACP), which is used as an input to the Australian National Accounts. Outputs from the AC include statistics on land and water use, crop and horticultural area and production, livestock numbers and farm management and demographic information undertaken by businesses in Australia, while data is produced at national, state, and sub-state levels.

Geographic coverage

The AC 2020/2021 covered the entire territory of Australia.

Analysis unit

Agricultural holdings

Universe

The statistical unit for the AC 2020/2021 was a "business", identified by its Australian Business Number (ABN), and a geographic split was applied for ABNs operating over multiple locations. Units were identified as undertaking agricultural activity if any of the primary or secondary productive activities of those businesses fall within the Agriculture Subdivision (Subdivision 01), as defined by the 2006 edition of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC).

The coverage of the AC 2020/2021 included all businesses undertaking agricultural activity recorded on the ABS Business Register with size above the cut-off of AUD 40 000. The measure of size was based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimated Value of Agricultural Operations (EVAO). Note that for previous ABS Rural Environment and Agricultural Collections a scope of EVAO of $5,000 or greater was used. The change in scope better aligns this collection with contemporary definitions of an agricultural business and reduces the overall reporting load for smaller agricultural businesses.

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

The AC 2020/2021 was conducted through complete enumeration of agricultural businesses listed on the ABSBR that met the cut-off threshold.

The frame used for the AC 2020/2021 was drawn from the ABS Business Register (ABSBR), which is based on the Australian Business Register (ABR). Businesses and organizations are included on the ABR when they register with the Australian Taxation Office for an Australian Business Number (ABN). The ABSBR has been used for ABS agricultural collections since 2005/2006.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI)

Research instrument

Data was collected using one single questionnaire. The AC 2020/2021 covered 11 out of the 23 essential items recommended in the WCA 2020.

Cleaning operations

Survey responses were checked for completeness, coherence, and accuracy. Where possible, follow-up contact was made with agricultural businesses to resolve reporting problems.

For item nonresponse, imputation was applied using historical data or information from similar agricultural businesses that had responded. In cases of unit nonresponse, weighting methods were used to compensate for these non-sampling errors. Data was then aggregated and weighted to account for nonresponse and ABSBR coverage error.

Data was edited using ABS designed and built imputation and estimation processes which accessed oracle servers on which input data was stored. SAS was the primary tool for analyzing responses and to identify anomalies. Blaise was used to directly edit respondent data when correcting anomalies.

Before finalizing statistics, estimates were compared against and may be adjusted to better align with other information sources including: other ABS surveys; administrative data, including data from the Bureau of Meteorology and the then Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment; industry estimates and expectations; and reports on rainfall, temperature, climatic events, and natural disasters.

DATA PROCESSING NOTES The ABS distributed statistical processing activities across specialist processing and support areas located in a number of Australian state offices of the ABS.

Direct data capture was ensured by the CAWI method. Whereas paper questionnaires were processed using optical character recognition (OCR) to extract data.

Response rate

A response rate of 85.4 percent was reported.

Australia Employment: sa: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing data was reported at 290.703 Person th in Feb 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 301.337 Person th for Nov 2024. Australia Employment: sa: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing data is updated quarterly, averaging 357.433 Person th from Nov 1984 (Median) to Feb 2025, with 162 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 442.334 Person th in Nov 1990 and a record low of 285.321 Person th in Aug 2013. Australia Employment: sa: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.G021: Employment: by Industry.

ABS released data contains final estimates for data items collected in the 2014–15 Rural Environment and Agricultural Commodities Survey (REACS). The statistics on crop and horticultural area and production were used to estimate biomass volumes for the Australian Biomass for Bioenergy Assessment Project. Agriculture data includes Cereal Straw, Non Cereal Straw and Hay & Silage. The Drought Minimum and Bumper Maximum has been calculated by using the total tonnage of a drought/bumper year as a percentage of the total tonnage of an average year and applying these percentages to the total for each region. (41% and 158% respectively). See RenewablesSA website for more information including metadata and data sources. http://www.renewablessa.sa.gov.au/investor-information/bio-energy-roadmap/biomass-for-bioenergy-assessment

Australia Agricultural Commodity Production: Value: Crops: Other: Sugar Cane data was reported at 1,253.353 AUD mn in 2020. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1,265.050 AUD mn for 2019. Australia Agricultural Commodity Production: Value: Crops: Other: Sugar Cane data is updated yearly, averaging 1,259.201 AUD mn from Jun 2011 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,624.456 AUD mn in 2017 and a record low of 932.837 AUD mn in 2011. Australia Agricultural Commodity Production: Value: Crops: Other: Sugar Cane data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Australian Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.B025: Agricultural Production: Value (Discontinued).

GDP from Agriculture in Australia increased to 20128 AUD Million in the second quarter of 2025 from 20070 AUD Million in the first quarter of 2025. This dataset provides - Australia Gdp From Agriculture- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Australia GDP: Growth: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data was reported at -7.956 % in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of -10.129 % for 2019. Australia GDP: Growth: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data is updated yearly, averaging 2.672 % from Jun 1976 (Median) to 2020, with 45 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 43.297 % in 1984 and a record low of -21.861 % in 1983. Australia GDP: Growth: Gross Value Added: Agriculture data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Gross Domestic Product: Annual Growth Rate. Annual growth rate for agricultural value added based on constant local currency. Aggregates are based on constant 2010 U.S. dollars. Agriculture corresponds to ISIC divisions 1-5 and includes forestry, hunting, and fishing, as well as cultivation of crops and livestock production. Value added is the net output of a sector after adding up all outputs and subtracting intermediate inputs. It is calculated without making deductions for depreciation of fabricated assets or depletion and degradation of natural resources. The origin of value added is determined by the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), revision 3.; ; World Bank national accounts data, and OECD National Accounts data files.; Weighted average; Note: Data for OECD countries are based on ISIC, revision 4.

In financial year 2025, the land area used for wheat production in Australia was estimated at just over ***** million hectares. Wheat production accounted for the largest land area used for crop production in Australia. A global wheat leader Australia is one of the leading wheat producers worldwide, consistently ranking among the top ten. The majority of wheat produced in the country is exported, with Australia being one of the leading wheat exporting countries globally. The export of wheat, flour, and wheat products from Australia was estimated at ** million metric tons in 2024/2025. Wheat cultivation in Australia Wheat is produced in Western Australia, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. The yield of wheat in Australia reached a peak in 2023, despite falling in the following years. It was forecast that the production volume of wheat in New South Wales will reach ****** kilotons in 2025.

Overview
Australia's Agricultural Industries 2017 map provides a snapshot of agriculture's status and trend. It shows where Australia's broad agricultural land uses are located and statistics on their area and land tenure. The map reports on the top 5 livestock, crop and horticulture commodities based on gross value of production. Trends in agricultural production, employment and exports are also given including for Australia's top 5 export commodities and destinations.

The map presents information in a simple and easy to understand manner and provides a useful resource for planning and regional development.

This map replaces the 2016 map with updated agricultural and employment data.

Key Issues

• The map presents published data of current status and historical trends from ABARES and the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a single page. A change in scope of the agricultural census 2015-16 data has impacted on commodity data, particularly with some horticultural commodities. • This map complements ABARES Australia's Forestry Industry 2017 map.

As of July 2025, Elders Limited was the leading agricultural product company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with a market cap of **** billion Australian dollars. The previous leading agricultural product company, Costa Group, was delisted from the ASX earlier in 2024 after being bought out by a North American-based consortium made up of Paine Schwartz Partners, Driscoll’s Inc, and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation. Major agricultural exporter Despite its relatively small contribution to the country’s total GDP, agriculture remains a crucial economic sector in Australia, with agricultural commodities trade forming a notable share of Australia’s total exports value each year. While the value of agricultural exports from Australia declined in 2021, the industry grew substantially in 2022 and 2023. Australia’s agriculture industry has remained resilient, as the Australian Government has continued investing in agricultural development and food security. Market leader Elders Limited Founded in 1839 in South Australia, Elders Limited, now among Australia’s most trusted agribusinesses, mainly operates in the Branch Network, Wholesale Products, and Feed and Processing Services segments. Elders Ltd supports primary producers in Australia and New Zealand throughout the production cycle by offering an array of agricultural products and financial services, including farm supplies, technical services, insurance, real estate, as well as agency services involving wool, grain, and livestock. In 2024, Elders Ltd reported a sales revenue of over *** billion Australian dollars.

This annual report is a compendium of historical statistics covering the agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry sectors. It provides a set of comprehensive statistical tables on Australian and world prices, production, consumption, stocks and trade for 19 rural commodities. The commodities covered include grains and oilseeds, livestock, livestock products, food, wool, horticulture, forestry products and fisheries products. This report also contains statistics on agricultural water use and macroeconomic indicators such as economic growth, employment, balance of trade, exchange rates and interest rates.

This annual report is a compendium of historical statistics covering the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. It provides a set of comprehensive statistical tables on Australian and world prices, production, consumption, stocks and trade for 19 rural commodities. The commodities covered include grains and oilseeds, livestock, livestock products, wool, horticulture, forestry products and fisheries products. The report also contains statistics on agricultural water use and macroeconomic indicators such as economic growth, employment, balance of trade, exchange rates and interest rates.

Australia Cereal Production data was reported at 56,306,820.810 Metric Ton in 2022. This records an increase from the previous number of 51,077,697.910 Metric Ton for 2021. Australia Cereal Production data is updated yearly, averaging 24,050,705.000 Metric Ton from Dec 1961 (Median) to 2022, with 62 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 56,306,820.810 Metric Ton in 2022 and a record low of 9,149,882.000 Metric Ton in 1961. Australia Cereal Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Australia – Table AU.World Bank.WDI: Agricultural Production and Consumption. Production data on cereals relate to crops harvested for dry grain only. Cereal crops harvested for hay or harvested green for food, feed, or silage and those used for grazing are excluded.;Food and Agriculture Organization, electronic files and web site.;Sum;

This annual report is a compendium of historical statistics covering the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors. It provides a set of comprehensive statistical tables on Australian and world prices, production, consumption, stocks and trade for 19 rural commodities. The commodities covered include grains and oilseeds, livestock, livestock products, wool, horticulture, forestry products and fisheries products. The report also contains statistics on agricultural water use and macroeconomic indicators such as economic growth, employment, balance of trade, exchange rates and interest rates.

Australia: Agriculture value added, billion USD: The latest value from 2024 is 38.87 billion U.S. dollars, a decline from 44.47 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 27.33 billion U.S. dollars, based on data from 150 countries. Historically, the average for Australia from 1990 to 2024 is 23.16 billion U.S. dollars. The minimum value, 9.91 billion U.S. dollars, was reached in 1992 while the maximum of 45.2 billion U.S. dollars was recorded in 2022.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$) in Australia was reported at 38866547522 USD in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Australia - Agriculture, value added - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

This technical report uses farm survey data to measure the contribution of cross-farm resource reallocation to industry-level productivity growth within Australian broadacre agriculture. The results show that resource reallocation between farms accounted for around half the industry-level productivity growth that occurred between 1978 and 2010, and its contribution appears to have increased over time. This effect is mainly caused by the asymetric impact of technological progress on incumbent farms, as reflected in difference in productivity growth and the relative mobility of different production factors. These findings provide useful insights for policy-makers considering industry-level reforms as a means of imrpving aggregate agricultural productivity.