Grain is Focus of Chinese Tour of Australia

Indicating China’s growing interest in Australian grain origination including wheat, corn, sorghum, rice and malting barley, a delegation of representatives from some of China’s largest corporations, including COFCO and Chinese brewery, Tsingtao, will be touring Australia this week to view Australia’s grain growing capabilities first hand.

As tariffs on barley, grain sorghum, wheat gluten, and grain-derived starches fall as a result of the recently forged China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), interest in China for Australian grain is expected to only strengthen.

“China is the world’s biggest consumer of grains, and also a very big producer of many products that rely on grains and pulses as an input, such as beer,” said Jeff Turner, Austrade Trade Commissioner. “With the anticipated easing of tariffs on certain Australian grain imports and related products under ChAFTA, this is an ideal time for our industry to meet with Chinese buyers to understand future needs and investment opportunities.”

The Chinese delegation will be meeting with grain farmers, processors, and traders, and will tour facilities and growing regions in Western Australia.

“We have a strong reputation for reliability and quality,” said Mr. Turner, “and there has never been a better time to take our already very good long-term cooperation to the next level.”