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21 July 2026
Western Australian agrifood export eNews
The South West Angels is a not-for-profit organisation actively engaged with connecting regional investors to innovative Western Australian (WA) startups.
Currently, applications are officially open for their primary investment promotion opportunity. While open to all innovative and scalable startups across the state, this initiative places a key focus on ventures based in the South West region.
This program provides a dedicated platform for startup founders to present their investment opportunities to private investors. Successful applicants will have the chance to pitch to an expert Deal Screening Panel, receive valuable feedback on their offering from experienced investors, and progress to exclusive 1:1 coaching sessions. Ultimately, selected founders will pitch live to members and the broader business community, helping them build high-value connections and access potential funding.
The selection process is competitive, with startups progressing through each stage based on business readiness and strategic fit.
Applications close on Friday 24 July. Apply Here
Source and image: South West Angels
Austrade's South Asia Business Exchange invites Australian agrifood companies to unlock opportunities in South Asia through export strategy workshops in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.
South Asia is a high-growth market for Australian agrifood exporters. The series of workshops will be hosted by Austrade’s Trade and Investment Commissioner to South Asia, Todd Miller.
The workshops offer a strategic platform for Australian businesses with capabilities across grains, pulses, infant nutrition, packaged and organic foods and wine to explore and expand into one of the world's fastest growing regions. By participating, you will:
- gain market intelligence and actionable insights across key South Asian markets
- understand pathways to market and effective export strategies
- identify and navigate agrifood opportunities
- build strategic connections with government and industry stakeholders
- leverage Austrade’s expertise and on-the-ground insights
- learn from market experiences and success stories
- strengthen your South Asia market entry and growth strategy
View the program here to find a session near you.
Date& location
- 27 July - 6 August 2026: Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide
- Express your interest now, places are limited.
Source and image: Austrade
Updates developed in collaboration with International Freight Forwarders & Customs Brokers Association of Australia Limited (IFCBAA).
General
- Equipment and vessel availability remain constrained. Several services continue to operate blank sailings or reduced vessel deployments despite strong demand. Some markets attribute this to a shortage of suitable tonnage.
- Carriers continue to adjust surcharges and pricing mechanisms. MSC withdrew its planned Service Disruption Surcharge before implementation. Other carriers have announced new rate restoration measures and emergency space surcharges from August. This reflects ongoing efforts to manage demand and maintain service reliability.
South Asia, Middle East and Africa
- There are reports that some Gulf airports have seen a drop in movements. Overall movements were at about 90% of usual capacity a few days ago. However, Dubai DWC (the cargo airport) and Kuwait KWI in particular have since seen a drop. Dubai DXB, Abu Dhabi AUH and Doha DOH are seeing normal flight levels.
- Cathay Pacific will postpone the resumption of their services from Hong Kong to the Middle East (Dubai & Riyadh). They will be postponed from the start of September to late October 2026.
Source: Go Global Toolkit mage: iStock (Golden Sikorka)
The Australian lamb industry is preparing to respond to a United States global safeguard investigation into lamb imports after the United States Trade Representative referred the matter to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).
Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) chief executive officer Tim Ryan said the organisation would work with industry to ensure Australia continued to play an important role as a reliable supplier of lamb to the US, helping meet the gap between domestic demand and production during the Section 201 investigation.
“Australian lamb exporters have built a long-standing relationship with US customers and consumers, which has ultimately underpinned the maintenance and growth of lamb consumption in the US to the mutual benefit of US producers and Australian exporters.,” said Ryan.
Referring the matter to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) under Sections 201 and 202 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, the investigation will examine imports from all countries and does not specifically target Australia. The investigation is the first step in a statutory process and does not itself impose tariffs or other trade measures.
Sheep Producers Australia chief executive officer Bonnie Skinner said the Australian supply chain would work collaboratively throughout the process.
“Industry is well positioned to demonstrate the value of Australia’s long standing trading relationship with the United States,” she said.
Meat & Livestock Australia regional manager North America Paul da Silva said the Australian and American sheep industries shared common goals in promoting lamb consumption in the United States.
“MLA has invested in programs to help grow lamb consumption in the US for decades, working with American owned businesses to increase product awareness and trial,” said da Silva.
AMIC, Meat & Livestock Australia and Sheep Producers Australia said they would continue working with members, government and industry stakeholders throughout the investigation to support a coordinated industry response and keep processors, exporters and producers informed.
Source: MLA | Image: Shutterstock (Sheepy-Kun)
From September 2026, new European Union (EU) rules will affect how Australian dairy farms need to use and record antimicrobials, including antibiotics, in order for Australia to maintain trade access.
While antibiotics and other antimicrobials used to prevent or treat disease will still be allowed under the new EU rules, antimicrobials can no longer be used to promote growth or increase production in animals. This includes some products that may be described as feed additives or nutritional supplements, such as Lasalocid and Monensin.
These changes mean that the Australian dairy industry will need to carefully manage and record the usage of antimicrobials on farm.
For dairy farmers, that means keeping careful records of any veterinary product or feed additive usage as the EU may review them during audits of Australia’s export systems. Farmers will therefore need to be careful and deliberate about how antimicrobials are used on-farm and make sure every use is recorded clearly and accurately.
The formal advice from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) is:
- Review all antimicrobial veterinary products used on your property or included in feeds and supplements to ensure they are only used for disease control or prevention.
- If necessary, consult your veterinarian or nutrition advisor for guidance on complying with EU rules.
- Record the therapeutic reason for using any veterinary products or feed additives on your property, including for antimicrobials the disease or condition being treated or prevented by recording that you have used the product ‘to prevent or control disease’ or include the disease treatment or prevention use listed on the label (e.g. to prevent bloat, treat coccidiosis).
- For dairy exporters, ensure dairy producers within your supply chains are aware of the EU’s requirements that antimicrobial products must only be used only for therapeutic purposes in dairy cattle and records should reflect this usage.
Source and Image: DAFF & Dairy Australia
Further information
Agribusiness, commercial fishing and aquaculture news from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). If you have any questions or information to share, please email export@dpird.wa.gov.au.
Subscribe to Western Australian Agrifood Export eNews.
Important disclaimer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the State of Western Australia accept no liability whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or release of this information or any part of it.
Copyright © State of Western Australia (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development), 2026.
