Australian food and beverage products are recognised worldwide for their variety and healthy image. The industry is also known for innovative manufacturing and packaging technologies.

The diversity of foodstuffs available from Australia is huge and comprises grains, meats, dairy products, seafood, fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, olive oil, wine and other beverages, confectionery plus a host of individual gourmet treats and specialty lines. Smaller categories include salt, herbs and spices, flavourings and ingredients. Organic products and products with native ingredients are found in a number of categories.

Climatic differences within the Australian continent from the tropical north to cooler south contribute to the range of produce grown in the country and abundance of ingredients available for further processing. Located in the southern hemisphere, Australia can also offer counter seasonal produce to northern hemisphere markets.

Australia also has significant expertise in the areas of food processing technology and cool chain management.

Dairy

Australia is a significant producer and exporter of milk and dairy products and is ranked third in terms of world dairy trade.

Australia’s dairy product range includes milk, milk powder, cheese, yoghurt and dairy desserts, butter, butter oil, casein and whey products.

Confectionery

Australia produces a wide range of chocolate confectionery, sugar confectionery and chewing gum. The majority of confectionery exports are chocolate based products and lines regarded as uniquely Australian are based on Australian fruit and nuts (including macadamia nuts).

Fruits, vegetables and nuts

Australia has a world class plant breeding program and has improved breeds using conventional and novel plant breeding techniques. Some examples are Pink Lady™ and Sundowner™ apples, seedless mandarins, vitamin-enriched pineapples and pink-and-red Calypso mangoes. The largest crops grown in Australia are oranges, bananas, apples, pears, pineapples, peaches, table grapes, mandarins and tangelos.

Fruit juices

Australia produces around one billion litres of fruit juice based drinks a year with a retail price of about $1.5 billion. Orange juice has the largest share of the market, but other popular juices are apples, apricots, guava, kiwifruit, mangoes, pears, pineapples and blueberries.

Dried and canned fruit and vegetables

Australia produces around 194,000 tonnes of canned fruit each year, including tomatoes, peaches, pears, apples and apricots and is increasingly packing fruit in natural juice. Canned pears, peaches and fruit salad are the leading export products.

Organic products

Organic food production in Australia covers a diverse range of industries, including grains and pulses, horticulture, viticulture, beef, pork, poultry, dairy, honey, edible oils and an increasing range of processed food and consumer products.

Seafood

Major categories from Australia’s wild catch are rock lobster, prawns, tuna and abalone. Southern Bluefin tuna represent over half the value of aquaculture production, and the majority of exports. Other key aquaculture exports include Atlantic salmon, edible oysters, farmed prawns and trout, abalone (Greenlip and Blacklip), eel, scallop, giant crab, crocodile, aquarium fish and native fish.

Beverages – non-alcoholic

The range of non-alcoholic beverages includes carbonated diet and regular soft drinks, sports and isotonic drinks, bottled and packaged waters, fruit juices and cordials.

Beer and malt

Australia is one of the world’s leading beer and brewing nations. Australia exports malt, beer and expertise in brewing technology and brewing construction.

Wine

Australia is a leading producer and exporter of premium quality and branded wines. The main varieties of wine grapes produced in Australia are shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay, semillon, colombard, riesling and sauvignon blanc.

Useful links

www.affa.gov.au - Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Australia
www.aqis.gov.au - Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
www.awbc.com.au – Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
www.aifst.asn.au - Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (AIFST)
www.ausmeat.com.au – Aus-Meat Limited
www.candy.net.au – Confectionery Manufacturers of Australasia
www.dairyaustralia.com.au - Dairy Australia
www.foodscience.afisc.csiro.au - Food Science Australia
www.mla.com.au - Meat and Livestock Australia
www.packcoun.com.au - Packaging Council of Australia

Australian Trade Commission services

Austrade has a network of staff across India who can assist Indian companies to identify Australian expertise and connect you with the right people to expand your business.

Utsav Australia is an Australian government program managed by Austrade to raise awareness of Australian capability in India.

If you are thinking of expanding your business and would like more information on how to do business with Australia visit the Austrade website:

www.austrade.gov.au or email Austrade on: utsavaustralia@austrade.gov.au