Industry Facts and Figures

Production

Australia usually produces between 2 to 3 million tonnes of oilseed crops each year. This has been as high as 3.7 million tonnes in 1999-00, largely because of a record canola production of over 2.5 million tonnes.

Canola and cottonseed are the major oilseed crops accounting for 93 per cent of total oilseed production, with soybeans and sunflower comprising a further 3 and 4 per cent respectively. Canola production is now the largest oilseed crop representing 57 per cent of Australian oilseed production over the past 5 years, while cottonseed comprised 36 per cent.

There are also small quantities of minor oilseeds such as safflower and linseed grown in Australia.

Oilseed Production by Type and Year

	2007/08	2006/07	2005/06	2004/05	2003/04
Canola	1069	512	1440	1531	1622
Sunflowers	75	20	95	61	39
Soybeans	35	30	56	54	74
Cottonseed	200	350	800	850	420
Other	10	10	20	7	10
Total	1985	922	2411	2503	2165

Area and Production by State

Canola
State	2007/08		2006/07		2005/06		2004/05		2003/04
	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes
NSW	58	44	40	30	145	254	279	420	195	420
Vic	150	200	75	42	225	338	240	395	230	282
SA	160	155	110	75	150	218	180	226	180	310
WA	390	670	300	365	440	630	420	490	400	610
Total	758	1,069	525	512	960	1440	1119	1531	1005	1622

Sunflower
State	2007/08F		2006/07		2005/06		2004/05		2003/04
	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes
QLD	20	32	4	5	2	2	17	14	30	20
NSW	28	43	13	15	75	93	28	47	19	19
Total	48	75	17	20	77	95	45	61	49	39

Soybeans
State	2007/08F		2006/07		2005/06		2004/05		2003/04
	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes	'000 ha	'000 tonnes
QLD	8	20	5	10	7	15	8	16	15	32
NSW	7	15	9	20	16	40	17	38