Last week Tigers International Solutions launched a new initiative called ‘Less than a Container Load’ to support Western Australian producers export their goods by sea freight to Singapore.

Rather than needing to fill a full container themselves, producers requiring similar temperature requirements will be allocated space on a shared container.  The producers will also receive last mile distribution assistance to ensure a smooth end-to-end delivery.

Many of WA's exporters of perishable food products have been affected by significant disruption to global air travel due to COVID-19.  International flights from WA have dropped from approximately 216 per week down to 10 to 15% of this amount. At the same time, freight costs have soared and can be four to six times pre-COVID-19 rates. There’s no indication this will change in the near future and rates are likely to remain high for a very long time.

Working closely with technical experts from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), this new international freight solution was identified.

DPIRD Principal Business Development Manager and International Airfreight Coordinator, Terry Burnage, said there was a need to find non-traditional solutions to the current market situation.

"This new initiative demonstrates the adaptability of the freight industry to deliver innovative solutions to WA exporters, during a time when there is great uncertainty," Mr Burnage said.

"We’ve worked alongside the Tigers International Solutions team to provide market insights, contacts and guidance to assist in bringing this idea to fruition.

“The service will cost a fraction of the current airfreight cost and exporters interested in using this service can either contact Tigers directly for shipping schedules and rates, or via their current freight forwarder”. Source and Photo:  Tigers International Solutions / DPIRD [L-R: Liam O'Connell and Terry Burnage, DPIRD; Mark Mills, Fresh Live and Frozen; Jason Radford and David Wilkins, Tigers International Soluitions; Jane Caforio, Austrade]

Singapore imports of food reached an all-time high of $1.1 billion in December 2020.  With a population of 5.5 million consumers, Singapore's discerning appetite for high-quality foods, and new, sustainably produced foodstuffs continues to grow exponentially.

Late last year, Singapore was the first country to approve cultured chicken meat and, recently, the Singapore Government announced the formation of an agrifood cluster transformation fund to drive local production to achieve a 30% self-sufficiency by 2030 (the '30-by-30 Goal').

With these trends in place, join this free interactive webinar on Wednesday14 April 2021 at 3 pm AWST to find out:

• How WA food and beverage producers can engage in the Singapore market
• How Singapore can be a food and beverage hub for Australian producers into the ASEAN region
• How plans for the soon to be launched Western Australian Food Innovation Precinct are going to aid these opportunities.

The event is being supported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA, the Peel Development Commission and the Shire of Murray.

In 2019-20 WA agrifood exports to Singapore totalled $212.3 million, up 32% compared to 2018-19.  The three largest agrifood products exported to Singapore in 2019-20 were pig meat, wheat, milk and cream.

For general enquiries about doing business in Singapore, please contact the Invest and Trade Western Australia team at investandtrade@jtsi.wa.gov.au. More...  Source:  CCIWA  / JTSI / DPIRD |  Photo:  WA Agrifood Export eNews

A Western Australian company which received a Value Add Investment Grant from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development earlier this year has just struck a deal with one of China's largest manufacturer of traditional medicines.

Quintis, the world's largest Indian sandalwood producer, signed a memorandum of understanding last week that will see Santalum album exported from WA's Ord Valley in the far north of the State and developed into new products for the booming Chinese traditional medicine market.

The $500,000 grant Quintis received is funding the expansion of their first stage processing plant in Kununurra and second stage processing plant in Albany which produces the product.

Their project allows them to scale up their manufacturing capabilities significantly, allowing them to process the increasing volume of wood onshore and boosting local manufacturing and value adding.  More...  Source:  Quinitis / DPIRD / ABC News  |  Photo:  Quintis [Kununurra]

If you need support to manage export costs, expand and meet the requirements of new contracts or purchase new equipment, the team at Export Finance Australia is available to assist.

They have worked with more than 90 agribusinesses across Australia in the last five years and provided $225 million worth of finance, supporting almost $1.1 billion in contracts.  Financial support includes loans, bonds and guarantees to exporters or businesses in an export-related supply chain. 

Export Finance Australia has worked with businesses across a variety of agricultural sectors including BioGass Renewables, Dicky Bill Farming, Australian Organic Honey Company and Down Under Enterprises.

When Down Under Enterprises began to see increases in their customer base and order sizes, they reached out to Export Finance Australia for a Working Capital Guarantee. This allowed them to buy more inventory and have it available in their US warehouse, ready for customers.

“Export Finance Australia has really helped our business to grow significantly. It's a very good organisation with which to work – I would encourage anyone looking to export to reach out to them to see if it can help,” said Dee-Ann Prather, Managing Director, Down Under Enterprises.

Explore how Export Finance Australia could help your business today. Visit www.exportfinance.gov.au/possible or call 1800 093 724.  Source and Graphic:  Export Finance Australia

Exporting can be complex, that’s why Austrade Export Services has been launched to help guide you on your export journey.

Whether you’re exploring the possibilities of exporting, ready to tackle your first market or looking to expand and stay ahead, Austrade can help.

Learn the basics of exporting, assess if you’re ready to export, understand market nuances and build a list of resources using easy to navigate self-service tools.  Source:  Austrade  |  Photo:  iStock

Considering exporting to South East Asia?  Join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade, Export Council of Australia and private sector experts to gain insights on the opportunities and risks of doing business with Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. 

This free seminar – on Thursday 25 March 2021 from 12 noon to 1 pm AWST – will also cover broader economic conditions and drivers of growth in these markets.

Vietnam’s growing economy and burgeoning middle-class present significant opportunities for Australian businesses.  Vietnam is among Australia’s fastest growing trade partners, with bilateral trade increasing just over 12% a year during the past five years.

Malaysia is an advanced middle-income nation with the fastest urbanisation growth rate in ASEAN. As the Malaysian economy recovers post-COVID-19, consumer spending will rebound.

As a top ten trading partner, Thailand continues to be an important market for Australia.  The country remains ASEAN’s second-largest economy, strategically located near key markets.  Thailand’s effective control of the pandemic has enabled it to focus on its economic recovery.  Source:  Austrade  |  Photo:  Mike Swigunski / Unsplash [Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam]

Changes have been made to the export certificates issued by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE), due to the implementation of Australia’s new export legislation. This change affects all countries and commodities.

Australia’s updated certificates will be released by regions of the world during March 2021. Updated plant certificates were released on 15 March 2021. There will be a small transition period (throughout March 2021) where old and new certificates may be seen.

In order to ensure a smooth transition to the new certification arrangements, DAWE has been communicating with trading partners about the changes.  This includes providing notification of the changes through the World Trade Organisation (G/SPS/N/AUS/515).  DAWE also maintains a website, which outlines the changes to certification.

Should exporters receive any enquiries from importing countries about the changes to certification, please direct any enquiries to exportstandards@awe.gov.au.  More...  Source:  DAWE / WTO  |  Photo:  Fremantle Ports