Austrade’s Export Supply Chain Service (ESCS) is a new initiative by the Australian Government to coordinate insights, helping industry and stakeholders navigate supply chain issues while connectivity to international markets remains volatile, and capacity diminished and expensive.

ESCS will be hosting a virtual Industry Briefing at 9.30am (AWST) on Wednesday 21 September 2022. Attendees are invited to hear the latest updates on global supply chains from ESCS’s Principal, Michael Byrne. Prior to ESCS, he established the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), and as International Freight Coordinator General, led a team ensuring Australia’s air freight services for perishable and critical goods were maintained through COVID.

With previous roles as Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Toll Holdings, Chief Executive Officer of Coates Hire, Linfox and Westgate Holdings, and Non-Executive Director of Australia Post, Mr Byrne's career spans some of the biggest logistics companies in the world. He has lent his commercial expertise to the government by serving on numerous boards advising on transportation, infrastructure, food security and security matters.

He currently serves on the New South Wales Ports, Sydney Airport and Ausgrid Boards, is a council member on the New South Wales Freight Advisory Council, and a Senate member for the University of WA.

Register now for the latest updates and advice, delivered by seasoned logistics experts. Source and Graphic: Austrade

Vinexpo, held every two years, has been the most influential wine trade fair in the Asia-Pacific region. It will take place from 23 to 25 May 2023 at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. The event will provide the opportunity for producers to showcase their brands to the most influential buyers from across the region and around the world.

WA Wines to the World is also planning for WA regions and wines to have a significant presence at Vinexpo Asia 2023.

Producers interested in taking part, please register your expression of interest now. For more information, please email Sarah Roberts, Regional Manager – Asia Pacific at asia@wineaustralia.com. More... Source: Wine Australia | Photo: Zhu Hongzhi / Unsplash

Seafood country of origin labelling may soon become mandatory within the hospitality sector, with restaurants required to tell customers where the seafood served has originally come from.

Following representation made by the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) to Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, recently a response was received indicating the Government is committed to working with the seafood and hospitality sectors to explore options to implement country of origin labelling for seafood at the food service level.

WAFIC Chief Executive Officer Darryl Hockey said it has reached the point in WA that 70% of seafood consumed in the State is imported, and only 30% of it is local.

“We don’t want people to have bad experience with food that has come from overseas, so we think that the customer has the right to make an informed choice as to what they are buying, and we believe that country of origin labelling adds integrity to the system,” Mr Hockey said. More... Source: WAFIC | Related: Mandatory country of origin seafood labelling for hospitality sector on menu for government | Source: ABC News | Photo: Mike Bergmann / Unsplash

Has your exporting business been restricted by a trade barrier?

The Industry Growth Centres, led by Food Innovation Australia Limited, have partnered with the Export Council of Australia to give visibility to trade barriers affecting Australian businesses.

The Trade Barriers Register aims to give visibility and help resolve trade barriers. This allows businesses to be more prepared and enables us to make an impact on trade negotiations and policies. 

Lodge your barrier today. More... Source: TBR | Photo: Hanson Lu / Unsplash [Port of Singapore]

Global demand for cheaper cuts of beef is expected to increase in the year ahead as rampant inflation and slowing economic growth see consumers trade down, agribusiness specialist Rabobank says in a newly-released report.

And Australia – as one of the largest exporters of beef ‘trimmings’ (the cheaper meat cuts which remain after prime cuts are removed) – is expected to be among the best-positioned countries to benefit from this increased international demand, particularly from the United States, the bank says in its third quarter Global Beef Quarterly.

“Evidence of declining consumer confidence in the face of slowing economies and rising inflation is starting to build,” the Rabobank report says.

“In general, beef markets are resilient to changes in economic conditions. However, we do see movement within supply channels and price points that tend to favour cheaper options such as mince/ground beef and quick-service restaurants over the more expensive cuts and consumption channels.” More... Source: Rabobank | Photo: Kristian Ryan Alimon / Unsplash