AUSVEG: Demand for Australian vegetables in Asia
“Global population growth and a more affluent middle class in Asia are the primary forces driving demand for vegetables,” said Andrew White, AUSVEG Manager of Industry Development and Communications. “There are predictions that higher income consumers in Asia will spend up to five times more on high quality food products compared to lower income brackets, which underpins the growth opportunities available for the Australian vegetable industry,” said Mr White.
Modelling undertaken for the vegetable industry as part of the industry’s Strategic Investment Plan suggests that exporting offers the greatest potential returns on research and development investment. “Expanding international exports is likely to underpin the growth of the vegetable industry in the next ten years. Only four per cent of vegetable growers currently sell vegetables for export, so the potential for expansion is very high.”
“The industry is currently conducting research to get growers ‘export ready’, providing them with an appreciation of the opportunities and an understanding of the viability of various export markets. Developing growers’ capacity to establish their products and grow in these markets over time is imperative,” said Mr White.
Vegetable exports have remained steady overall in the last seven years despite a high Australian dollar, but the industry believes there is significant untapped potential, particularly in Asia.
“The Australian dollar may have muted the strength of Australian vegetable exports in recent years, but now the dollar has fallen and exporting to international markets is more viable,” Mr White said. “Australia’s location relative to south-east Asia gives Australian growers a geographical edge in terms of shipping costs and delivery times. For example, within the last five years vegetable exports to Indonesia have risen from $6 million to $11 million, and to Papua New Guinea from $3 million to $7 million,”
“We are confident that strong economic growth in developing countries is likely to spur demand for vegetables. Developing countries are growing at more than 5 per cent per year while East Asian countries are growing at 7 per cent. The Australian vegetable industry has a great opportunity to ride the wave of growth by providing safe, high quality products,” said Mr White.
The research project has been funded through HAL using the National Vegetable Levy and matched funds from the Australian Government.
For more information:
Andrew White, Manager of Industry Development and Communications
AUSVEG
Phone: +61 3 9882 0277
Mobile: +61 409 989 575
E-mail: andrew.white@ausveg.com.au