Exports to Vietnam will further contribute to $14 billion per year in Australia’s honey industry
Australia’s honey industry is set to flourish with new market access for the export of honey and edible apiculture products to Vietnam.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt welcomed this outcome in a meeting with Vietnam’s Minister Le Minh Hoan, held in the margins of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit.
“Australia’s honey industry is a huge contributor to the Australian economy – exports to Vietnam will further contribute to this $14 billion per year industry. “Since I met with Minister Le Minh Hoan, trade has commenced, with 10 shipments landing in Vietnam – an unbeelievable outcome for our honey industry” Minister Watt said.
“Rising incomes and a growing food manufacturing sector are expected to drive strong growth in consumption of agricultural products in Vietnam over the next decade and our world-renowned honey and apiculture products will now enjoy a seat at the table” added Minister Watt.
Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell outlined the Albanese Government’s support for Australian exporters through the $19m Southeast Asia Business Exchange. The government is also in the process of finalising upgrades to Australia’s free trade agreement in Southeast Asia.
“Since the release of our Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, we have seen a hive of business activity in Vietnam and right across the region,” Minister Farrell said.
“Effective cooperation between Australia and Vietnam has continued to grow our mutually beneficial agricultural trade relationship, delivering strong results for both country’s producers and exporters. In 2023, two-way trade in agriculture, fisheries and forestry commodities between Australia and Vietnam exceeded $6 billion. In addition, we’re working with our Vietnamese counterparts to improve biosecurity across aquaculture and plant health as well as cooperation and capacity building across a number of key sectors for Vietnam like rice” Minister Watt added.
