Caption Calvin Gong, MLA's Senior Technical Consultant, demonstrating Australian red meat cuts to Chinese importers at SIAL.
Key points:
- The MLA-sponsored SIAL trade show in Shanghai was held from 28–30 May and was attended by 19 Australian exporter exhibitors.
- During the show, the Chinese government announced the reinstatement of five establishments which had been suspended.
- China was Australia's second-largest export market by tonnage in the first six months of 2024.
SIAL China
The SIAL trade show took place in Shanghai in late May, with 19 red meat exporters exhibiting in the MLA pavilion along with more Australian exporters visiting the show or located in nearby pavilions. SIAL China 2024 attracted around 180,000 visitors from 107 countries, solidifying its status as Asia's largest food and beverage innovation exhibition. Spanning 200,000 square metres, the event hosted over 5,000 exhibitors, providing a global platform for showcasing high quality Aussie Beef and Lamb.
Reinstatement after strains in relations
Coinciding with SIAL, industry welcomed China's reinstatement of export approvals for five out of seven Australian meat export processors that were suspended in 2020 due to technical reasons. This follows the lifting, six months earlier, of COVID-19 suspensions for an additional three processors.
These outcomes follow tireless industry advocacy undertaken in both Canberra and China – with MLA providing an essential in-market engagement role with key Chinese government authorities, meat organisations and importers.
An ongoing priority is to build on these developments by working closely with the Australian Government and entities in China on not only having the remaining two exporters' suspensions lifted, but to seek market entry for numerous Australian red meat exporters who have yet to gain access to China - as well as ensuring ongoing trade facilitation with this this important trading partner.
China remains Australia's largest meat market by tonnage.
China was Australia's second-largest export market by tonnage in the first six months of 2024 and despite some slowing of the Chinese economy, remains a vital market for the Australian red meat industry. Growth in Chinese consumption of beef and lamb continues to outpace domestic production and with relations moving towards stabilisation, China looks set to continue being a major importer of Australian beef and lamb for the foreseeable future.
