Transportation of gram affected due to acute shortage of trucks in northern part of Australia
14-Nov-2024 08:44 PM
The transportation of gram (chickpeas) in northern Australia is facing significant challenges due to a shortage of trucks, which is impacting the export of the crop.
With a large production of Desi gram and faba beans expected this year, harvesting is underway in New South Wales, but transporting the harvest to the ports has become increasingly difficult.
The insufficient availability of trucks has caused delays and the possibility of hindrances in export shipments of gram. As an alternative, rail transportation could offer a solution to the shortage of trucks.
Currently, railways are being utilized to move the harvest, with one train heading to Brisbane and two others heading to the Newcastle terminal.
However, this solution is still facing challenges due to the heavy rains in certain areas, which are delaying the harvest and, consequently, affecting the timely transportation of the crops.
In the southern regions of Australia, while efforts to accelerate the harvesting of lentils are underway, crop yields are generally below average.
This was anticipated due to the unfavorable weather conditions in South Australia and Victoria, leading to a decline in lentil production.
This is especially concerning because, according to previous estimates from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the lentil harvest for the 2024-25 season was expected to reach 1.69 million tonnes.
However, the ongoing adverse conditions suggest that the production estimate could be significantly reduced when the government releases the updated data in the first week of December.
In summary, while the gram harvest in northern Australia is facing transport challenges due to a shortage of trucks,
the situation in the south regarding lentil production is also of concern, as unfavorable weather conditions have led to below-average yields, which may result in downward revisions of the production estimates.