Citrus Australia recently released figures for Australia's citrus exports and announced that the country had hit record numbers in 2016. From January-November 2016 citrus exports were just under 220,000 tonnes and were valued at $335 million, an increase of 10 per cent in volume and 24 per cent in value when compared to similar figures from 2015
Citrus Australia market access manager David Daniels said 10 years ago Australia exported fewer than 1000 tonnes of citrus. Thanks to new free trade agreements however and zero tariffs, exports have boomed.
“We have seen a substantial increase in value,” Mr Daniels said.
“This is due in part to a more favourable exchange rate but we are also seeing exporters focus on high-value markets with an outstanding crop this season.”
Citrus exports to China were valued at $72 million and increased by 38 per cent to 40,000 tonnes, up from 28,962 tonnes the year before while exports to Japan increased by 25 per cent to the value of $53 million.
source: weeklytimes.com.au
