SA wines on agenda for China trade mission

South Australian producers are heading to China as part of a trade mission to capitalise on evolving export opportunities in the lucrative overseas market.

A contingent of South Australian wine, seafood, honey and beverage producers are heading to Shanghai next week for one of the biggest trade exhibitions in the world, the China International Import Expo.

A trade delegation, led by South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Clare Scriven, will be supporting our producers at a Taste of South Australia event ahead of the expo, where SA businesses will connect with Chinese importers and distributors, ensuring our state remains in the spotlight for a lucrative market with evolving tastes.

The Minister’s delegation will also participate in other major trade and industry events, including the China Fisheries and Seafood Expo in Qingdao, Shandong, and further engagement activities ahead of the China International Import Expo.

The trade mission will also celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the South Australia-Shandong sister-state relationship and progress priorities for the South Australia-Shandong Food, Wine and Agribusiness Working Group.

As part of her visit, the Minister and her delegation will progress the partnership between the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences and South Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions, including through the Wine Industry Technical Collaboration Program and exploring future collaborations in cropping, soil science, horticulture and animal husbandry.

China is the biggest export market for South Australian primary industries, having grown by 26 per cent to nearly $1.9 billion in the year to August 2026 and accounting for 23 per cent of the state’s total agricultural, food, wine and forestry export value.

Mainland China remains the biggest export market for SA wine ($632 million in the year to September 2026). Evolving consumer demand from the Chinese market has seen its consumers spend more on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Riesling produced in our state, according to data from Wine Australia.

Meanwhile, mainland China has emerged as one of the strongest export markets for SA honey and beverages in recent years, as well as one of the strongest markets for SA seafood outside of the dominant Japanese market, according to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES).

The Minister’s delegation, which includes representatives from PIRSA, will be in China for a week, with stops in Jinan, Weifang, Qingdao and Shanghai. In addition to supporting the South Australia-China trade relationship, the Minister will hold meetings to explore new opportunities in agricultural technology and fisheries research.