Victoria Export Performance

Victorian food and fibre accounts for over 27 per cent of Australian food and fibre exports. In 2017-18, Victoria’s total food and fibre exports were valued at $14.1 billion, up 11 per cent on the $12.8 billion achieved in the previous financial year.

The food and fibre sector is an important economic driver for Victoria. It contributes an estimated 4.8 per cent to Victoria’s Gross State Product (GSP) and employs 5.3 per cent of the workforce.

The sector generates over 207,000 jobs such as pickers, transport and logistics export companies, packers. In Victoria, 87 per cent of agricultural employment is concentrated in regional areas. A key strength of the sector is its diversity, with several industries doing very well in 2017-18.

Food and fibre exports from Victoria reached a record $14.1 billion in 2017–18, an increase of 11 per cent (up $1.4 billion) on the previous year. Several industries grew significantly including meat, wool, prepared foods and wine.

As Australia's largest value food and fibre exporter, Victoria made up for 27 per cent of Australian food and fibre exports.

Victoria is the highest value exporting state for:

• dairy (79 per cent)
• animal fibre (53 per cent)
• prepared foods (38 per cent)
• horticulture (45 per cent)
• skins and hides (47 per cent)

Victoria’s reputation for producing safe, high-quality food assists exporters operating in competitive global markets.

The Victorian Government works to help promote growth of the food industry. The recently announced Taste Victoria Initiative and its two programs Global Table and Growing Food and Fibre Markets program will assist the sector to capture new market opportunities, innovate, improve its biosecurity and connect with existing and emerging markets.