New trade connections between Western Australian agrifood and beverage businesses and prospective customers have been forged over the past week at China’s biggest food and beverage trade exhibition.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) coordinated the WA Showcase display, featuring 24 local brands at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, together with the Invest and Trade WA China Office.
Participating businesses included wine, beverages, seafood, honey, horticulture, fibre, apparel and packaged goods.
DPIRD also supported the delegation with a market retail tour, business matching and information briefing sessions – opening the door to future trade relationships.
This is the fourth time WA has participated in the expo, which attracts more than 450,000 local and international buyers from throughout the world.
China remains WA’s largest market for WA agrifood, fisheries and forestry, with 2024-25 exports valued at $3.14 billion.
DPIRD primary industries trade manager Joan Lim said there was significant interest in the WA offering.
“WA received a great reception from international buyers, who were particularly interested in our premium packaged goods offerings and seafood,” she said.
“The China International Import Expo has once again demonstrated how important this market is for us to tell our provenance story, build relationships with potential customers and lay the foundations to export growth.
“This is the first time WA has exhibited in China since the wine and lobster trade restrictions were lifted, which continue to be very popular with CIIE visitors."
The China expo is one of a number of DPIRD supported trade exhibition initiatives promoting WA businesses this year, which has included HOFEX Hong Kong, Food and Hotel Asia Singapore, FOODEX Japan and Gulfood UAE.
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