In response to data that Australian imports of vegetables have tripled between 2000 and 2010 AUSVEG spokesperson Andrew White today warned this increase poses a threat to the Australian vegetable industry and the community.
“Between 2000 and 2010 Chinese vegetable imports have tripled, from just over $30 million in value in 2000 to representing $96 million in value in the Australian market in 2010,” Mr White said.
“Among the vegetables we are importing into Australia from China are dried vegetables, garlic, processed tomatoes, asparagus, frozen beans, frozen sweet corn, processed potatoes, fresh, frozen and processed peas, and fresh spinach,” he said.
“Vegetable imports from China have grown threefold over the past 10 years and they represent a considerable threat to the viability of Australian growers, as they are cheap and can undercut our market due to lower labour and input costs overseas.”
He also expressed food safety concerns.
“Between 2000 and 2010 Chinese vegetable imports have tripled, from just over $30 million in value in 2000 to representing $96 million in value in the Australian market in 2010,” Mr White said.
“Among the vegetables we are importing into Australia from China are dried vegetables, garlic, processed tomatoes, asparagus, frozen beans, frozen sweet corn, processed potatoes, fresh, frozen and processed peas, and fresh spinach,” he said.
“Vegetable imports from China have grown threefold over the past 10 years and they represent a considerable threat to the viability of Australian growers, as they are cheap and can undercut our market due to lower labour and input costs overseas.”
He also expressed food safety concerns.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the following increases in imports from China have taken place between 2000 and 2010. These represent only a few of the increases:
- Imports of Dried Vegetables have increased from $5.87 million to $15.03 million.
- Imports of Peas (fresh or chilled) have increased from $90,676 to $4.17 million.
- Imports of Frozen Beans have increased from $54,377 to $3.12 million.
- Imports of Frozen Sweet Corn have increased from nothing to $1.55 million.
- Imports of Processed Potatoes have increased from nothing to $1.26 million.
- Imports of Frozen Vegetable Mixes have increased from $368,282 to $10.28 million.
Source: AUSVEG news
