Sorghum production in Australia
In 2024 Australia produced 2.4 million t of sorghum, the 10th largest in the world (3.80% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 90%. The record was 3.8 million t in 2008. Area harvested: 774,646 ha, yield 3.2 t/ha.
- Production, 2024
- 2.4 million t
- World rank
- 10 of 107
- 10-year change
- +90%
- Record
- 3.8 million t
- 2008
Sorghum in Australia, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
Australia compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 3.8%
- 1.9% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 3.2
- world 1.5 (+117%)
- kg per person
- 91.4
- world 7.87
- 10-year change
- +90%
- world −5.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | China | 3,069,546 | 4.8% |
| 9 | Argentina | 2,495,532 | 3.9% |
| 10 | Australia | 2,441,091 | 3.8% |
| 11 | Niger | 1,907,733 | 3.0% |
| 12 | Burkina Faso | 1,900,000 | 3.0% |
Map of world production of sorghum
Share of the world total; Australia is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2,441,091 | +4.9% | 774,646 | 3.15 |
| 2023 | 2,326,266 | −12% | 703,441 | 3.31 |
| 2022 | 2,648,069 | +62% | 621,503 | 4.26 |
| 2021 | 1,638,962 | +312% | 572,607 | 2.86 |
| 2020 | 397,485 | −66% | 204,113 | 1.95 |
| 2019 | 1,160,479 | −7.7% | 550,279 | 2.11 |
| 2018 | 1,257,219 | +26% | 462,191 | 2.72 |
| 2017 | 994,001 | −44% | 367,920 | 2.70 |
| 2016 | 1,790,574 | −19% | 520,527 | 3.44 |
| 2015 | 2,209,173 | +72% | 732,473 | 3.02 |
| 2014 | 1,282,042 | −43% | 531,996 | 2.41 |
| 2013 | 2,229,709 | −0.4% | 647,812 | 3.44 |
| 2012 | 2,238,912 | +16% | 659,279 | 3.40 |
| 2011 | 1,934,510 | +28% | 633,071 | 3.06 |
| 2010 | 1,507,635 | −44% | 497,909 | 3.03 |
| 2009 | 2,691,789 | −29% | 766,986 | 3.51 |
| 2008 | 3,789,931 | +195% | 941,550 | 4.03 |
| 2007 | 1,283,009 | −34% | 613,341 | 2.09 |
| 2006 | 1,932,447 | −3.9% | 766,680 | 2.52 |
| 2005 | 2,010,574 | +0.1% | 755,029 | 2.66 |
| 2004 | 2,009,373 | +37% | 734,234 | 2.74 |
| 2003 | 1,464,510 | −28% | 666,721 | 2.20 |
| 2002 | 2,020,844 | +4.4% | 822,771 | 2.46 |
| 2001 | 1,935,140 | −8.5% | 757,727 | 2.55 |
| 2000 | 2,115,912 | +12% | 622,267 | 3.40 |
| 1999 | 1,891,000 | +75% | 587,000 | 3.22 |
| 1998 | 1,081,000 | −24% | 507,000 | 2.13 |
| 1997 | 1,424,990 | −10% | 544,000 | 2.62 |
| 1996 | 1,591,970 | +25% | 769,928 | 2.07 |
| 1995 | 1,273,300 | +17% | 686,246 | 1.86 |
| 1994 | 1,083,700 | +98% | 499,461 | 2.17 |
| 1993 | 548,016 | −62% | 427,000 | 1.28 |
| 1992 | 1,447,380 | +93% | 569,137 | 2.54 |
| 1991 | 750,512 | −21% | 377,801 | 1.99 |
| 1990 | 945,653 | −24% | 380,034 | 2.49 |
| 1989 | 1,243,751 | −24% | 624,864 | 1.99 |
| 1988 | 1,632,673 | +15% | 744,958 | 2.19 |
| 1987 | 1,419,305 | +0.3% | 818,339 | 1.73 |
| 1986 | 1,415,681 | +3.4% | 734,163 | 1.93 |
| 1985 | 1,368,988 | −27% | 723,000 | 1.89 |
| 1984 | 1,885,478 | +97% | 730,325 | 2.58 |
| 1983 | 958,010 | −27% | 706,527 | 1.36 |
| 1982 | 1,316,700 | +9.4% | 649,000 | 2.03 |
| 1981 | 1,204,000 | +31% | 658,000 | 1.83 |
| 1980 | 922,038 | −18% | 518,605 | 1.78 |
| 1979 | 1,125,223 | +58% | 468,749 | 2.40 |
| 1978 | 714,376 | −25% | 394,100 | 1.81 |
| 1977 | 956,046 | −15% | 532,073 | 1.80 |
| 1976 | 1,124,000 | +25% | 504,000 | 2.23 |
| 1975 | 901,000 | −15% | 511,089 | 1.76 |
| 1974 | 1,061,000 | +4.2% | 539,671 | 1.97 |
| 1973 | 1,018,000 | −17% | 697,162 | 1.46 |
| 1972 | 1,228,000 | −5.4% | 638,400 | 1.92 |
| 1971 | 1,298,180 | +137% | 552,106 | 2.35 |
| 1970 | 547,402 | +86% | 358,746 | 1.53 |
| 1969 | 294,466 | +2.2% | 209,700 | 1.40 |
| 1968 | 287,994 | −9.7% | 186,900 | 1.54 |
| 1967 | 318,769 | +64% | 203,296 | 1.57 |
| 1966 | 194,564 | −0.2% | 175,403 | 1.11 |
| 1965 | 194,968 | −9.2% | 139,913 | 1.39 |
| 1964 | 214,699 | −23% | 147,994 | 1.45 |
| 1963 | 279,008 | +9.5% | 158,365 | 1.76 |
| 1962 | 254,759 | +56% | 146,764 | 1.74 |
| 1961 | 163,187 | — | 103,238 | 1.58 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 2.2 million t USD 629 m
- Exporter rank
- 2 of 76
- Imports
- 1,041 t USD 420,000
- Importer rank
- 55 of 130
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of sorghum in Australia?
Australia produced 2.4 million t in 2024, 3.8% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Australia rank in the world for production of sorghum?
Australia ranked 10th of 107 countries in 2024. The largest producer was United States with 13.6% of the world total.
How has the production of sorghum in Australia changed?
It rose by 90% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −5.8% for the world. The record was 3.8 million t in 2008.
What is the yield of sorghum in Australia?
3.2 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (2.4 million t from 774,646 ha), against a world average of 1.5 t/ha.
Does Australia export or import sorghum?
In 2024 Australia reported exports of 2.2 million t (USD 629 m) and imports of 1,041 t (USD 420,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.