1. Purpose

To advise GTA Members of the actions Grain Trade Australia is taking to represent member interests and support supply chain resilience in the face of emerging risks associated with global fuel and fertiliser market pressures.

2. Background

Global developments impacting fuel and fertiliser markets are increasing uncertainty across agricultural production and supply chains. In the context of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to key input markets, these pressures highlight the interconnection between energy availability, input supply and food production.

For members, this reinforces the importance of coordinated industry and government responses to support supply chain resilience, market access and operational certainty.

3. GTA Action and Industry Engagement

GTA is actively engaging with government and industry to ensure the implications for the grain sector are understood and reflected in policy discussions.

This includes participation on the National Food Council, engagement with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and representation through the National Emergency Management Agency’s National Coordination Mechanism on National Fuel Supply.

GTA has reinforced the role of fuel and fertiliser in underpinning food production, particularly ahead of the winter planting window, and highlighted risk to grower decision-making, supply availability and trade.

4. Implications for Members

Global disruptions to fertiliser and the energy market are contributing to a more complex and higher-cost operating environment.

For members, this may impact on input availability and pricing, planting decisions, production levels, and supply chain efficiency, including export capacity. Fuel availability remains critical across on-farm operations, domestic processing and logistics, and export pathways.

5. Supporting Supply Chain and Food Security

GTA continues to emphasise the link between energy policy and food security, and the importance of maintaining reliable grain supply chains to support domestic markets, export pathways and regional food security.

6. Building Resilience and Supporting Members

GTA has raised the potential for sustained high input costs to contribute to financial pressure across the supply chain, while also highlighting opportunities to strengthen resilience, including domestic renewable fuel production such as canola-based feedstocks.

GTA continues to support members through market updates, industry engagement, guidance on contractual matters, including force majeure, and Technical Committee input to inform policy positions and identify emerging risks. GTA will continue to engage with the government, supported by member input, and will keep members informed as the situation evolves.

Download PDF