MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — The stocks of wheat grain for milling in May increased 34% compared to the same period a year ago, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported on June 19 in its Stocks of Grain Held by Bulk Handling Companies and Grain Traders report.

ABS said stocks of wheat for milling in May were 11.2 million tonnes, 70% of all grain stored. This was a decline of 1.9 million tonnes or 14% from April, but an increase of 2.8 million tonnes from May 2011.

Feed grade wheat stocks at the end of May 2012 were 4.8 million tonnes, 30% of all grain stored, a decrease of 1.1 million tonnes from April. Feed-grade stocks were down 2.2 million tonnes or 31% from May 2011.

Bulk storage of wheat grain in May was down 3 million tonnes, or 16%, to 15.9 million tonnes from April, but 634,000 tonnes higher than May 2011.

“The continuous decrease of Australia's bulk storage of wheat grain is due to harvest reaching completion in all states in combination with increasing wheat grain exports over the last few months,” ABS said in its report.

All states showed a decrease in stocks of wheat grain stored in May. The largest fall in stocks occurred in New South Wales where a decrease of 931,000 tonnes (or 17%) from the end of April was recorded.

The largest quantity of wheat grain was stored in Western Australia with 6.6 million tonnes, accounting for 41% of the Australian total. New South Wales (including ACT) was next largest with 4.4 million tonnes contributing 28% of national stocks.