ABARE estimates that Australian wheat exports in 2008 / 09 will be 14.6 million tons.

According to the latest report released over the weekend by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resources and Economics (ABARE), Australian wheat exports doubled in 2008 to 14.6 million tons from the previous year, compared with 7.4 million tons in 2008.

According to ABARE, bulk wheat exports reached 12.2 million tons, accounting for 84% of the total exports, with the rest exported in containers or bags. Last year, Australia exported wheat to 54 countries, of which Indonesia was the largest importer, importing 2.6 million tons, accounting for 18 percent of Australia's total wheat exports.

Of the other major export markets, Iran accounted for 1.58 million tons, or 11 per cent. Vietnam 973000 tons, Iraq 890000 tons, Malaysia 857000 tons, Yemen 846000 tons. Japan is 808000 tons. Sudan 793000 tons, South Korea 761000 tons.

Vietnam is the largest market for Australia's bagged and container wheat exports, with a volume of 498000 tons, Indonesia 325000 tons, Malaysia 290000 tons and Taiwan 252000 tons.

Australia exported 982400 tons of wheat in September, down 21% from 1.24 million tons in August.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics said earlier this week that Australian wheat production in 2008-09 (April to March) was 20.9 million tonnes, up 54 per cent from the drought-related reduction of 13.6 million tonnes in 2007-08.

Rabobank Australia says Australia has produced 22.8 million tons of wheat this year.