News

South Australia’s trade relationship with China is crucial for our state. Our largest export market, it is worth $4 billion – up 46 per cent year-on-year – and is of enormous importance to South Australia’s seafood industry.

The country’s seafood ban hit South Australia’s lobster industry severely, cutting off more than $70 million of southern rock lobster from its most valuable market.

But bilateral relations between Australia and China are beginning to stabilise, with China already removing tariffs on Australian barley and wine recently, which has resulted in a significant bounce-back for local exports.

Now, with the hope that lobster exports into China will be the next to ease, the South Australian Government has developed a $475,000 package to provide export and marketing support and ensure the industry is poised to make the most of the changing seafood market across Asia.

The Seafood Export Growth Program includes:

• support for SA seafood exporters to attend major international trade events to meet with local buyers
• bringing key seafood importers to South Australia for familiarisation visits
• a marketing campaign for international audiences, including China and Japan
• access to trade advisers to assist with export capability building.

Industry information sessions will also be held to help producers better understand changing market trends, regulatory issues, opportunities and risks.

This program will help South Australia’s seafood and lobster industries to rapidly re-engage with the lucrative China market as soon as trade restrictions are lifted.