News

South Australia’s Southern Rock Lobster is ready to make a splash back into the Chinese market following the official lifting of trade restrictions.

Valued at over US$20 billion annually, the Chinese seafood market was previously one of South Australia’s most significant seafood export destinations.

In preparation for the removal of trade restrictions, the South Australian Government launched the Seafood Export Growth Program in June, to prepare the sector to re-enter the market. At its peak in 2020, South Australian Southern Rock Lobster exports to China were valued at $73 million.

The Seafood Export Growth Program has already supported a series of initiatives, including providing assistance to South Australian seafood exporters at China’s largest trade show, the China International Import Exhibition (CIIE), in Shanghai in November.

As part of the Program, and with restrictions lifted, the South Australian Government, through the Department of State Development, is supporting a group of leading seafood importers from China, Hong Kong and Singapore to visit the state in February.

The importers will have the opportunity to visit Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay, meeting with seafood exporters directly and learning about the state’s premium quality seafood, sustainably fished in pristine clear waters.

South Australian Southern Rock Lobster fisheries remain the state’s most valuable wild catch fishery with exports valued at $40 million in the year to October 2024.

“We are extremely happy to be back in the China market,” said Andrew Ferguson, Managing Director, Ferguson Australia. “Our customers too have been very welcoming to have us back, so it seems a win-win for both sides.

“We’ve been exporting to China for 25 years, and the South Australian product and brand is well known and well liked in the market.

“Fresh out of the sea in the southeast, we have a shipment of lobster landing in China.”