
GrainCorp profits plunge amid challenging global market
Australian agribusiness firm GrainCorp (ASX:GNC) has reported a downturn in its half-year results for the period ended March 31.
The company’s statutory net profit after tax plummeted to $5 million, a sharp decline from the $58 million recorded during the same period last year.
Underlying EBITDA also saw a substantial contraction, falling from $202 million in H1 FY25 to $136 million in H1 FY26.
Managing Director and CEO Robert Spurway characterised the performance as "disciplined" despite a "challenging global grain market" defined by oversupply and suppressed pricing.
The agribusiness segment was particularly impacted, with EBITDA dropping to $104 million from $141 million a year prior.
Total grain handled across East Coast Australia fell to 26.5mmt, down from 29.5mmt, driven by lower carry-in positions and reduced selling activity from growers.
Despite these headwinds and compressed margins at multi-year lows, the company maintained a fully franked dividend of 14 cents per share, though it notably lacked the 10-cent special dividend issued in the previous period.
GrainCorp has reaffirmed its FY26 earnings guidance, projecting an underlying EBITDA of $200–240 million and an underlying NPAT of $20–50 million.
Spurway emphasised that the company remains focused on cost management and portfolio optimisation, noting that conflict in the Middle East has had minimal impact on supply chain operations to date.