Food & Fibre Exports - market insights, challenges and opportunities

Australia exported a total of $74 billion in Food and Fibre exports in 2023-24, with Victoria contributing the most of any state at $20.1 billion, which is 27% of the total. Queensland was the next at 19% by value. Opportunities, albeit constrained by drought, will still be dominated by demand in China and South-east Asia are still a growing market.  There is still uncertainty in the US with tariff the major cause of this the need to diversify markets while continuing to engage with China and the slow growth in established markets will be challenging in the near future.

3 Key Learnings

1. There is strong demand for Australian food products, despite slowing economic growth globally, most notably in developed economies. 
2. China is continuing to seek food products from Australian with good prospects for our major categories such as horticulture, meat, dairy.  
3. State and Commonwealth Governments are working together to support exporting companies navigate market access in key markets such as China, USA and South-east Asia.

About Brian

Brian manages the TradeStart network in Victoria, delivering both the Victorian Government and Austrade services to Agrifood exporting companies in Regional Victoria. He has spent more than 35-years with the Victorian Government, including more than 20 years involved in international market development, and a significant part of his early career using economic analysis on a local and national level. He commenced his career as a crop agronomist after completing an agricultural science degree, following with a Graduate Diploma in Agricultural Economica and a Master of Professional. Accounting.