A South Australia trade team is in China after a new export deal was signed with China Eastern airlines. Photo: ggyincheng/Pixabay
SA Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs is leading a trade mission to China on a five-day visit in search of more export deals.
The visit follows the signing of a $40m export deal with China Eastern Airlines Cold Chain Logistics (see below).
Szakacs and his team will meet with food and wine businesses including major buyers, e-commerce platforms and distribution centres.
He will meet with high-ranking Chinese government officials and education institutions and look to strengthen ties with South Australia’s sister province, Shandong.
“It’s been 12 months since wine exports to China resumed. Since then, the latest data shows that local wine producers’ exports have reached more than 80 per cent of the all-time highs in 2020,” Szakacs says.
This hasn’t happened by chance – it’s come about because of a dedicated and ongoing effort to rebuild a strong trade relationship.”
He says they have made “incredible strides” in reconnecting South Australian businesses with China but we “cannot rest on those achievements”.
After Chinese tariffs on Australian wine and seafood imports were lifted last year, exports there totalled more than $850 million in the 12 months to February 2025.
The SA government says the latest trade data shows South Australia’s total merchandise exports to China rose by 12 per cent to $4 billion.
In the year to February, seafood exports to China grew by almost 500 per cent to $63.3m, led by $47.1m of southern rock lobsters exports just two months since the ban was lifted.
Wine, the state’s third largest export to China, reached a new post-tariff record high of $790m.
CHINA EASTERN DEAL
On Friday, April 11, a supply deal was signed between China Eastern Air Cold Chain Logistics, Ferguson Australia (seafood) and Penfolds (wine).
Since 2013, the transport arm of the Chinese air carrier has imported Australian produce such as salmon, wine, mineral water, Manuka honey, chilled steaks, and cherries to China.
Last year, after China lifted its ban on Australian rock lobsters, China Eastern Airlines Cold Chain carried the first shipment.
The company says it can use its aircraft fleet to distribute Australian produce to 80 percent of China’s consumer population within 12 hours after customs clearance.
The airline points to a phased commissioning of salmon processing plants and live seafood holding facilities in Chengdu, Ningbo, Ezhou and other cities that will allow it to deliver semi-processed products from Australia to retail outlets across China within 48 hours.
