23 June 2011

1 minute read

Oceania

Indonesia received 32 per cent of Australia’s bulk wheat exports last financial year, making the country the largest importer of local grain.

NSW Farmers’ Grains Committee Chair Mark Hoskinson is concerned the recent decision to ban live cattle exports could strain bilateral trade relations.

“Indonesia is a valuable market for grain growers and imports almost a third of Australia’s wheat exports – compared to our next biggest markets Japan and South Korea, which import 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively,” Mr Hoskinson said.

“Indonesia is one of the most rapidly expanding and lucrative wheat export markets with the potential to continue growing.

“It is the fourth most populous country in the world with an increasing appetite for Australia’s prime agricultural produce,” he said.

NSW Farmers’ has repeated its call to the Federal Government to immediately reopen the live cattle export trade to accredited abattoirs. “Adopting a thorough process of inspection and accreditation will allow trade to resume and ensure no more Australian cattle are subject to cruelty in Indonesia,” Mr Hoskinson said.

“If we don’t immediately reopen the trade to Indonesia we can unfortunately expect a flow-on effect in other agricultural export commodity markets, which could be devastating for Australian wheat exports,” he said.

TheCattleSite News Desk