South Australia’s exports to the European Union have surged to a record $1 billion, marking a 22 per cent increase over the past 12 months and establishing the EU as the state’s newest billion-dollar export market, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The $183 million year-on-year growth, measured to March 2025, sees the EU join China, the United States, and India as South Australia’s top-tier export destinations, the government stated in a news release.
The expansion has been largely driven by increased shipments of machinery and power equipment, grains, metal ores, and nuts, particularly to Belgium, France, and Germany.
South Australian Minister for Trade and Investment Joe Szakacs said the state’s longstanding relationship with Europe is now being strengthened by tangible trade results.
“Our state’s relationship with the EU is generations old, led by strong people-to-people connections and shared values,” Szakacs said.
“It’s incredibly encouraging to see our state’s exports to the EU continue to grow, and to now top the $1 billion dollar mark – the diversification efforts of our government are paying dividends.”
The increase comes amid renewed trade negotiations between the Albanese Labor Government and the European Union, following a pause in discussions in 2024.
South Australia is leveraging this momentum to support further trade engagement despite broader global economic uncertainties.
As part of this strategy, the South Australian Government is backing local seafood producers at Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona from 6 to 8 May.
The initiative is funded through the state’s $475,000 Seafood Export Growth Program. The expo is the largest seafood trade event in the world and provides direct access for South Australian producers to global buyers.
“We’re looking forward to further trade and investment opportunities to flow from a future Free Trade Agreement between Australia and the EU, which is being enlivened thanks to the efforts of the Albanese Labor Government,” Szakacs said.
“Global economic and tariff disruptions are impacting global markets. This new high-water mark of $1 billion dollars in exports to the EU is a strong foundation as we seek to grow this relationship,” he added.
Szakacs emphasised that the European Union, with nearly 500 million consumers across 27 member countries, presents a valuable opportunity for South Australian exporters.
“This strong result is a reminder that there are significant avenues for growth for our export businesses all around the world, including in the EU – a market of almost 500 million people across 27 countries, with high purchasing power, and a keen awareness of the premium quality of our state’s exports,” he said.
