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Regional Australia: Export source and investment destination

Australia’s regional communities are a major source of the nation’s export strength and economic wealth. Non-metropolitan Australia plays a major part in generating Australia’s export revenue. One in four jobs in regional Australia depends on exports.

Agriculture and mining have always been major contributors to regional exports and remain so. Exports like iron ore, coal, wool, wheat and sugar still form much of the economic base of regional and rural Australia, but buyers and investors at home and overseas are tuning into the diversity and quality of the other export products and services found in regional Australia.

Automotive components, aeronautics, textile and construction products, internet technologies, and tourism and education services are just some of the regional outputs creating and fulfilling demand in international markets.

The dynamism of Australia’s regional export trade has its source in:

Snapshots of regional export winners

Regional exporters know they must grow and innovate to break into new markets. The following are some of the firms that have done just that.

Alcoa (Portland)

Alcoa operates an integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting system across 44 countries. The Alcoa facility in Portland is one of two Alcoa aluminium smelters in Victoria; the other is at Port Henry. The company also has operations in Western Australia and New South Wales. Alcoa has been a major Australian exporter for more than 40 years.

Callidan Instruments

Callidan Instruments, a high-tech Mackay-based company, makes state-of-the-art moisture analysers for industrial use to improve plant efficiency and product quality. Materials which can be measured range from coal, bauxite, and nickel ore to mineral sands, sugar, food and chemical powders. Callidan has also recently developed a gauge for the food industry that can measure bulk density and fat and salt content, as well as moisture. Callidan Instruments exports to over 10 countries around the world and in 2007 won an Australian Exports Award.

Gekko Systems

Gekko Systems, a manufacturer of gravity-separation mineral processing equipment and systems, is making a name for itself in Latin America. The company, based in Ballarat in Victoria, is working on a large modular plant installation in Argentina and has recently installed equipment in Peru, Chile and Guatemala.

Tatiara Meat Company Pty Ltd

Australia’s largest frozen lamb exporter, the Tatiara Meat Company, has an annual turnover of $185 million and processes 1.6 million lambs a year at its abattoir and processing facility at Bordertown, South Australia. The company produces around 200 different products, in chilled and frozen form, derived from lamb and mutton. Its markets include China, Japan, France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Zema Estate

The South Australian region of Coonawarra is famous for its ‘terra rossa’ soil, which is ideal for growing high-quality wine grapes. The Coonawarra winery, Zema Estate, produces estate bottled wines from hand-pruned and minimally irrigated estate grown grapes. From very small beginnings in 1982, Zema has developed into a multi-site estate producing highly regarded shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and varietal blends. Export markets include Canada, China, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

e-technology defeating time and distance

More and more Australian exporters are embracing e-commerce. Over 70 per cent are online, breaking down the old tyrannies of time and distance.

Many regional exporters use e-commerce technologies to share information with customers and suppliers, communicate with shippers, customs and freight forwarders, manage inventories and plan budgets. Costs are trimmed and time spent in freight and transport is reduced, leading to greater efficiency and productivity and a more competitive international presence.

Advantages for investors

Regional Australia offers investors:

Further information

This fact sheet is also available to download ( PDF)

Note: Unless otherwise stated, all dollar amounts are in Australian dollars.

last updated April 2008