Western Australia’s record grain harvest has added a whopping $8.5 billion in export value to the state’s economy and propelled the value of agricultural exports to a record $12.1b on the back of surging demand, strong production and favourable seasonal conditions.
International demand for WA farmers’ products is booming. Grain exports increased by $3.7b, up 77.6 per cent, and accounted for 70.3 per cent of the state’s agricultural export value.
WA was well ahead of Queensland ($10.6b), South Australia ($7.6b) and Tasmania ($1b) — all of which experienced growth, while agricultural exports from the Northern Territory plummeted 27.7 per cent to their lowest value since 2013-14, to $413m.
There was plenty of good news for WA in the report, which also revealed the west had retained its title as the nation’s biggest vegetable exporter by State, accounting for more than 90 per cent of the nation’s carrot exports. Fruit and vegetable exports from WA grew $8.8m and $4.5m respectively.
Vegetable exports were worth $120m, more than double the second-richest vegetable exporting state of Victoria at $52.2m. Both states were the only two to record significant increases in fruit exports, with WA recording up 24.6 per cent to $44 million. This was partially driven by an $8.6 million, up 336 per cent by value, increase in WA avocado exports.
Vegetables WA project manager Manus Stockdale said the State’s proximity to Asia and quality products meant demand was strong.
Source: kalminer.com.au