CANBERRA: Fresh bean exports in Australia have increase in value by 52.4% during the past four years.
Ausveg chief executive officer Richard Mulcahy said Australia’s export market for fresh beans was over $5.4 million for 2014-15. “This is the highest recorded value to date and has come about at a time when Australia’s vegetable export markets are showing considerable strength.” Mulcahy said.
“Exports can provide additional sources of revenue for growers at a time when they have been facing increased pressures from higher production costs.” he said.
Most of Australia’s fresh beans (98.4%) were exported to New Zealand in 2014-15. Other exports are to Singapore, Hong Kong, New Caledonia and Canada.
Australia’s fresh beans attract stronger demand in the export market than frozen beans. Fresh bean exports are valued at more than 40 times the frozen bean export market.
Victoria’s main bean production area is in East Gippsland, according to the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, but the majority of bean production in Australia takes place in Queensland, Tasmania and NSW.
