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South Australian exports bounce back

South Australian exports to China have reached another record as wine exporters bounce back following the removal of punitive tariffs earlier this year.

Oct 10, 2024, updated Oct 10, 2024
A support program for the South Australian wine industry has been announced. Photo: Riverland Wine / Instagram

A support program for the South Australian wine industry has been announced. Photo: Riverland Wine / Instagram

The state’s exports to China increased by 46 per cent in the past 12 months to $4.27 billion, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The data follows August exports, which saw a 54.7 per cent yearly increase and overall exports of $4.23 billion in what was the record.

South Australia’s total exports were valued at $17.9 billion according to the new data, with China mainland ($4.27 billion), the United States ($2.13 billion) and India ($1.09 billion) as the state’s top three markets.

Wine exports to China have reached $395 million since restrictive tariffs were removed five months ago.

“The normalisation of trade once again provides Chinese consumers with ready access to our world-class wine and agricultural products,” Bec Hardy Wines sales and marketing director Richard Dolan said.

“This provides tangible benefits to our regional communities – from our growers, to producers and the local industries that support them.”

Over $660 million of local barley was sold to China in the last 12 months, as the government says the return of China Southern Airlines flights from Adelaide in December will provide more export opportunities.

The flights will allow for perishable products such as seafood, dairy and fruit to be exported to markets including Guangzhou and the Greater Bay Area.

“Producers have not had direct freight access to the China market since flights were suspended in 2020, due to the global pandemic,” Trade Minister Joe Szakacs said.

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“I expect exports to continue to rise to China, particularly our fresh food products.”

The increase follows Hong Kong’s VinExpo event in May, which saw more than 30 South Australian wineries present, supported by a $1.85 million state government package.

Other key markets for the state over the 12 months were Vietnam ($629 million, up 29 per cent), the United Kingdom ($407 million, up 13 per cent), and Hong Kong ($362 million, up 27 per cent).

The data comes after South Australia made up 75 per cent of all bottled wine exported to China from Australia in May, making up $125 million of $142.2 million in exports.

At the time, Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the figures were almost $50 million higher than the average monthly export value in 2019, prior to COVID and the introduction of punitive tariffs.

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