Record export growth for South Australia – again, and again, and again

South Australian products continue to be sought after around the world as the state’s exports rise by $220 million in one month, creating a new record for the state’s goods exports.

The latest ABS trade data values South Australia’s merchandise exports at $18.4 billion in the year to May 2026, surpassing the previous record of $18.2 billion set in the previous month.

This is the third time in South Australia’s history that export value has exceeded $18 billion, with these occurrences happening in the first half of 2026. 

This month’s results have been driven by large increases in the export of copper (up 41 per cent to $5.4 billion), beef (up 39 per cent to $1 billion), barley (up 60 per cent to $590 million), lobster (up 43 per cent to $134 million) and tuna (up 80 per cent to $118 million).

The state continues to see exports outpace most of the nation, up 11.4 per cent and second only to New South Wales and far surpassing the national average of 3.7 per cent.

With new international flights established with China Eastern and the return of Emirates and Qatar flights, the state’s exporters have access to great air freight capacity to more markets around the world.

In the last 12 months, more than 23,000 tonnes of South Australian goods were exported via air freight, 35 per cent higher than the previous year with beef exports via air freight up 62.35 per cent to 822 tonnes to May 2026, with 82 tonnes of beef exported via air in May alone.

In June, China Easter launched its first ever direct flights between Adelaide and Shanghai, the world’s third-largest city and home to 30 million people, unlocking an additional 45 tonnes of South Australian products that can fly directly into China each week – the equivalent of 75,000 more lobsters.

China remains South Australia’s largest export market with exports up 5.7 per cent to $4 billion. The United States is South Australia’s second largest export market valued at $2.7 billion (up 32 per cent), India is third, valued at $1.8 billion (up 44 per cent) followed by Malaysia, valued at $1.5 billion (up 25 per cent).

For more information on exporting, reach out to one of our export advisers: https://export.sa.gov.au/export-advisers