A new Department of Primary Industries (DPI) report has found Victoria is Australia’s main exporter of food and fibre, up more than 10 per cent from last year.
The latest growth figures in the “Growing Food and Fibre Performance” report show that in 2011-12 Victoria exported $9 billion of food and fibre, up 11 per cent from the previous period.
The value of food exports from Victoria in the period was $7 billion, an increase of $745 million from the previous financial year, while the fibre products including animal fibre, skins and hides was up $164 million, valued at $1.94 billion in 2011-12.
Victoria made up almost 30 per cent of Australia’s total food and fibre exports, making it the leading state for the export of the products.
The report showed Victoria’s top food and fibre customer during the period was China, which imported $1.9 billion worth.
Japan was the second biggest importer at $816 million and New Zealand was third, with $484 million in export sales.
The report is part of the four-year Victorian government plan to grow the food and fibre export industry, which employs more than 141 900 Victorians and accounts for one in six jobs in regional and rural Victoria.
Of the food and fibre exports, dairy and grains were the most valuable, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the total value of food and fibre exports, despite Victorian dairy exports being down 1 per cent from the previous year to $1.93 billion.
Over 85 per cent of all Australia’s dairy exports come from Victoria, with milk and cream products valued at $940 million and cheese and whey products $699 million.
Japan was still the largest market for Victorian dairy exports, importing $428 million in 2011-12.
Exports to Singapore were valued at $190 million, those to China were $144 million and Indonesia imported $138 million of dairy products.
Victorian grain exports experienced a massive increase in value in 2011-12, up more than 60 per cent from the previous year to $1.81 billion.
Reported wheat exports were valued at $1.12 billion, totalling 62 per cent of Victoria’s grain exports, with Vietnam the most valuable market, valued at $233 million.
Meat export values were down $76 million from the precious year to $1.58 billion.
Victoria accounted for 20 per cent of Australia’s total meat export value.
Beef exports from Victoria decreased by 10 per cent to $606 million and sheep meat exports decreased by 8 per cent to be valued at $601 million.
Sheep meat accounted for 38 per cent of Victoria’s meat exports in 2011-12.
Exports to the United States were up 1 per cent to $242 million in the period, while Japan and China also remaining significant importers.
Victorian animal fibre products were valued at $1.45 billion, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2010-11, equating to 54 per cent of the value of Australia’s wool exports.