BEIJING: The recent Australian Grains Industry Conference event in Shanghai, China was sold out, which demonstrates strong interest in China for Australian grains, according to Grain Trade Australia. AGIC Asia returned to China after two successful AGIC conferences last year in Beijing and Guangzhou, and Grain Trade Australia chief executive officer Pat O’Shannassy said the Chinese market was important for Australia. ‘‘The Chinese market is critical for Australia’s grains industry, so this demand for information about the Australian industry is very encouraging for our industry and importantly for Australian grain growers,’’ Mr O’Shannassy said. ‘‘China is an extremely important and significant market for the Australian grains industry with exports valued at over $2.9billion per year, which represents around 23 per cent of value of Australia’s grain exports.’’
China imports an estimated six to seven million tonnes annually of Australian barley, wheat, sorghum, canola and pulses, while grains and oilseeds are common ingredients in Chinese products. ‘‘The Australian grains and oilseeds are used in a variety of products in China including malt barley for beer production; wheat flour production for various products including noodles, dumplings and steamed buns; sorghum for both feed and alcohol production; canola crushing for the retail vegetable oil market and as raw materials in various stock feed diets,’’ he said.
