SA Government announces $1.85 million support package for SA wine exporters

03 Apr 2024
The South Australian Government will provide a $1.85 million China Re-Engagement Support Package for South Australian wine exporters and grape growers.

The announcement follows China’s decision to remove all trade barriers on Australian wine, as a result of concerted efforts by both the state and federal governments to stabilise the trading relationship between the two nations.

The support package, to be rolled out over the next two years to June 2026, will provide South Australia’s wine sector with in-market insights and capability building to effectively re-engage with the China market in a risk-managed manner.

This support package will help to re-position South Australia as a market leader in China and support the broader stabilisation of the Australia-China trade and economic relationship.

In October 2020, prior to the start of tariffs, China was South Australia’s largest wine export market, with exports valued at $946.5 million, accounting for 47.2 per cent of South Australia’s wine exports globally.

For the year ending January 2024, wine exports to China were valued at $2.8 million, with a volume of 1.05 million litres.

The China Re-engagement Support Package was developed by the Department for Trade and Investment (DTI) in collaboration with the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA).

The $1.85 million support package comprises five key components:

·       Two-way market activation and immersion - $600,000
·       Promotional marketing and communication campaigns - $500,000
·       Wine export adviser - $400,000
·       Technical cooperation - $250,000
·       Exporter capability building - $100,000

“The announcement by the Premier of the China Re-engagement Support Package for South Australian wine exporters is warmly welcomed by industry,” said Inca Lee, Chief Executive, South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA). “We also thank the Premier for his foresight in leading a delegation to China in late 2023 in support of the Australian Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Australia’s relationship with China.

“These collective efforts will result in South Australian wine companies once again being able to share our wines with Chinese consumers.

“South Australian wine has made a deep impression on the Chinese consumer who values quality premium products, and we know this sentiment has not been diminished by the pause in our trading relationship.

“We will continue to work closely with the South Australian Government to ensure that activities delivered under this package strengthen opportunities for South Australian wine exporters in the Chinese market now and into the future.”

To support two-way market activation and immersion, DTI and its partners will facilitate opportunities for South Australian wine exporters to attend key in-market industry events in China in 2024 and 2025, as well as coordinate trade familiarisation visits for leading Chinese wine importers to experience South Australia’s wine regions.

South Australia’s world-class wine offering will be promoted to trade and high-end consumers in China through multi-platform marketing and communication campaigns aligned to peak consumption periods including key trade events and celebrations.
  
DTI will engage a Shanghai-based Wine Export Adviser to support market activation and immersion programs over the next two years with in-depth knowledge and connections within China’s wine sector.
  
Both China and South Australia share a long history of technical, scientific and research exchange in the wine sector. Technical cooperation activities will be pursued to deepen this collaboration.  
  
Market insight workshops will be delivered over the next two years to help build exporter capability and provide risk management advice.
  
In preparation for the removal of the tariffs, the Government delivered China Market Insights Workshops to almost 200 South Australian wine industry businesses at four events held in Coonawarra, Barossa, Riverland and the Adelaide Hills in late January and early February.
  
Significant progress has been made at both state and federal levels to stabilise the relationship with China, with trade impediments already removed on a range of Australian products since May last year, including coal, cotton, timber, barley, and oaten hay.

For further information on the China Re-engagement Support Package visit www.export.sa.gov.au/wine-china