Southeast Asia Market Visits a success!

To support Australian growers and exporters with trade development in Asia, Avocados Australia organised Southeast Asia Market Visits to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore this month. This was the first tour that Avocados Australia organised of this kind and the tour proved to be highly successful. Sixteen businesses took part sending representatives who were able to network and generate business leads during the program of activities. In all, the program was very busy over two weeks and included attendance at Asia Fruit Logistica (AFL).

At AFL growers and exporters had the chance to meet with trade partners and listen to the latest market insights in the Asian region. Australian avocados were featured by Austrade in cooking demonstrations that showcased avocado appetisers, breakfast and salad recipes. After AFL the Avocados Australia team and Southeast Asia market visit group went to the Talaad Thai wholesale market which is the largest in ASEAN.

In Malaysia growers and exporters had an opportunity to network with importers and retailers in Malaysia who shared their experiences with Australian avocados leading to interactive discussions. The industry provided an update joined by the regional grower representatives. The group heard from the Malaysian Commissioner, Melanie Harris, and Agriculture counsellor, Sanjay Boothalingam on the current outlook of the Malaysian market.  In Kuala Lumpur the group spent time visiting the local wholesale market as well as retailers including AEON Group Malaysia and The BIG Group Malaysia where Australian Avocados were featured. They also visited the facilities of local importers Euro-Atlantic and Khaishen Trading HQ giving growers the opportunity to better understand the export supply chain.

The group was in Singapore for the final leg of the tour. There they kicked off with some retail store visits to CS Fresh, Little Farms, and FairPrice Finest. This was followed by a tour of the Singapore fresh wholesale market, Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre and a meeting with the Singapore Fruits and Vegetables Importers and Exporters Association.

“The Southeast Asia market visits provided Australian avocado growers and exporters with a brilliant opportunity to meet importers, retailers and other key trade contacts face-to-face and I know that good quality networking and lead generation was achieved,” said John Tyas, CEO of Avocados Australia.

Avocados Australia would like to thank Austrade, Hort Innovation and the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development for their support and assistance with the tour. The tour was an initiative of the Avocado market access and trade development (AV20004) project that is funded by Hort Innovation, using the Avocado research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

More market visits are in the pipeline. For more information about the Southeast Asia market visit tour contact Flora Zhang by email to export@avocado.org.au or call 07 3846 6566.


This article appears as part of the 25 November issue of Guacamole, AAL’s enewsletter.

Author: Anna Petrou
Date Published: 24/11/2022