WESTERN Australian Hass avocado producers will soon be able to export to Thailand.
Minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry Murray Watt said this was a significant market access win for avocados, with an estimated market value of approximately $10 million.
“Improving market access for the Australian avocado industry is a priority for the Albanese Government,” Mr Watt said.
“The Australian avocado industry has recently experienced substantially lower prices on the domestic market due to high supply. Opening new market access and trade opportunities is helping the avocado industry maintain steady supply and pricing.”
Mr Watt said it supports the horticultural sector in meeting their target of a $20 billion sector by 2030 and the broader agricultural industry to grow toward a $100 billion sector.
“Thailand was Australia’s 12th largest agriculture, fisheries and forestry export market by value in 2021, worth $1.5 billion, including horticulture at $105 million,” he said.
“Consumer appetite for avocados is high in Thailand and it is no surprise that there is demand for our world-class, clean, and healthy produce.”
Mr Watt said Australia and Thailand have worked closely over many years on Australia’s long-standing market access request for Hass avocados and this agreement demonstrates significant progress.
“To enable trade to commence for Australian avocados, Thailand needs to undertake verification activities, which we expect to happen during the upcoming Western Australian 2023-24 avocado season,” he said.
“As a further demonstration of this important trading relationship, conditions for the export of cooked duck meat from Thailand to Australia have also recently been finalised.”
