Premier

Export Growth Delivering For Victorians

02 October 2018

Victoria’s exports have hit record levels and are still growing as the Andrews Labor Government helps more Victorian companies break into global markets and create local jobs.

Exports from Victoria grew 6.45 per cent to reach a record $51.6 billion in 2017-18.

Victoria’s services export performance has been particularly strong. Valued at $22.5 billion in 2017, it now represents more than 40 per cent of total Victorian exports.

This has been driven by sectors like international education, which has grown 98 per cent since 2012 to $9.8 billion, and tourism which is up 62 per cent to $4.8 billion over the same period.

Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, a key sector identified for support through the Labor Government’s $200 million Future Industries Fund, has seen incredible growth, with exports of pharmaceutical products surging 72 per cent in the past two years to $1.56 billion.

Victoria is Australia’s biggest exporter of food and fibre, another key sector the Labor Government is supporting, with exports reaching a record $12.8 billion in 2016-17. Victoria now accounts for 79 per cent of Australia’s dairy exports, 52 per cent of animal fibre, 45 per cent of horticulture and 38 per cent of prepared foods exports.

Victoria’s export growth is even more impressive given it has come over a period when the state’s single biggest exporter, Toyota, ceased production – highlighting the diversity and strength of our export sector.

The Labor Government offers a range of services to help local businesses get export ready, prepare market strategies and understand regulatory requirements so they can start taking their products and services to the world.

Since December 2014, more than 4,600 Victorian companies have participated in 130 Labor Government-supported inbound and outbound trade missions, resulting in more than $267 million of actual export sales.

The Labor Government has also grown Victoria’s network of international trade and investment Offices to 22 – more than any other state – and put in place strategies to grow trade and investment with key markets including China, India, Latin America and South East Asia.

These strategies are already delivering results, with ten-year targets for investment and international students set in the China strategy being met in just two years.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Trade and Investment Philip Dalidakis

“We’re helping local businesses make international connections and boost exports so they can grow and employ more Victorians.”

“We’re helping more local businesses go on trade missions, tap into e-commerce and get ready to do business in fast growing Asian markets so we can continue growing our exports and our economy.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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