Exports

Australian Horticultural Exports

Introduction:
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the 20 million people living in Australia represents only 0.005% of the world's population. This amounts to a colossal potential market of some 400 billion people living outside of Australia.

In 2004, Australia's total exports of all goods and services increased by 8% to $152.5 billion and its total imports increased by 8% to $178.2 billion making Australia a net importer of goods and services.

In value terms total agriculture is worth ($37billion), manufacturing ($73billion). So agribusiness is a big part of Australia's total business production of goods.

Horticulture in Australia is a $6.4 billion industry and the third largest agricultural industry in Australia, following grain, then sheep & beef.   It is extremely diverse and comprises fruit, vegetables, nuts, nursery, extractive crops, cut flowers and turf.   Total horticultural exports in 2002/03 were $778 million or about 12% of total production.

Horticulture remains relatively labour intensive and employs 64,000 people; this translates to 20% of total employment in agriculture being within horticulture.

The total area under production in Australia is about 2500 sq. kms.

Major growing Regions

The major growing areas for horticulture in Australia include the Goulburn Valley of Victoria; the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of New South Wales; the Sunraysia district of Victoria/NSW; the Riverland region of South Australia; Northern Tasmania; South West Western Australia and the coastal strip of both New South Wales and Queensland.

Major Horticultural Varieties Grown

Banana, pineapple, mandarin, avocado, mango, passionfruit, strawberries and fresh tomato production is concentrated in Queensland. Stonefruit, oranges and grapes from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Potatoes and Peas from Tasmania. Pears and tomatoes from Victoria. Apples and vegetables from all states.

In addition, Asian vegetables and tropical fruit such as bananas, mangoes, avocadoes, papaya, lychees, melons, rambutans, durians, carambolas, jackfruit and mangosteens are particularly grown in the Burdekin river region of Queensland and the Ord river region in Western Australia.

Main Horticultural produce exported:

Citrus, apples, pears, stonefruit, grapes and some exotic fruits, are the main products exported, along with a selection of vegetable varieties.

Main Export destinations:

The main export destinations include: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, (the Asian region) with produce also being sent to New Zealand, USA, Middle East, Europe and small amounts to various other countries.   

• Australian Horticultural Exporters Association   - AHEA.
• AQIS

More Links:

• Customs
• EMDG - Export Grant 
• DFAT - Trade Watch