Australian fresh bean exports have hit a record high says vegetable industry representative body AUSVEG.
Green BeansAustralia’s fresh bean exports are valued at over 40 times the size of its frozen bean export market.
“The export market for Australian fresh beans has experienced an upward trend over the past four years, with an overall increase in value of 52.4 percent since 2011-12,” said AUSVEG CEO Richard Mulcahy.
“Over the 2014-15 financial year, Australia’s export market for fresh beans has been valued at over $5.4 million dollars. This is the highest recorded value to date and has come about at a time when Australia’s vegetable export markets are showing considerable strength.”
New Zealand is Australia’s largest export market for fresh beans, holding a 98.4 per cent share of total fresh bean exports for 2014 – 15.
“Overall, Australia’s vegetable export market has also grown dramatically over the past three years. Global Trade Atlas figures show that it is worth over $125 million during the period January to August, 2015. This is an increase of over 10.2 percent in comparison to the same time last year when vegetable exports were estimated at just $114 million dollars,” said Mulcahy.
“Vegetable export growth in 2015 has been supported through increased exports to Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Each of these countries has seen an increase in export demand of 41 percent, 32 percent and 23 percent respectively in comparison to the same time last year.”
“Exports can help our local vegetable growers to diversify away from some of the domestic risk presented in today’s economy. It can also provide additional sources of revenue for growers at a time when they have been facing increased pressures from higher production costs,” said Mulcahy.
