Export
Issue No. 42 - August/September 2008
Big spending US pending opportunity
South Australia’s exports totalled $10.85 billion in 2006-07, 5.1% of Australia’s total exports and
an increase of 1% over the previous year, according the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Exports
of goods were $9.02 billion and exports of services
$1.85 billion.
Our five main export markets are the USA, the UK, Japan, China and New Zealand.
Major goods exports are wine, copper, motor vehicles, wheat and meat. Our key market sectors are agribusiness, wine, ICT, education, electronics, water and medical items. Major services exports are travel (often education-related) and the principal education services export markets are China, India and Malaysia.
The FTA with the USA allows big and small companies to chase work overseas. It’s estimated 87% of Australia’s 31,000 exporters are SMEs.
And the opportunities could be colossal according to Grame Barty, Austrade’s Regional Director - Americas. Grame says water know-how is in big demand in the USA, and will only get bigger. Water management is
a critical issue in California, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia
and Florida.
“South Australia has outstanding expertise in technology, research, government policy, products and product R&D,” Grame says.
“This is as important as energy security and they are very much looking to Australia for policy.”
Grame also cites opportunities for “anything organic” as Americans become more concerned ...
