Primary industries continue to record growth
The Primary Industries Scorecard 2020-21 has been released, showing South Australia’s primary industries and agribusinesses have continued to recover and grow.
Strong grain export prices and higher than average beef prices, along with increases in the production of grains and winegrapes during 2020-21 contributed to a 9% increase in South Australia’s primary industries and agribusiness revenue and an 8.5% increase in the total value of primary production.
South Australia’s primary industries and agribusinesses generated a revenue of $15.4 billion in 2020-21, an increase of 9%, accounting for 47% of the state’s merchandise exports.
Total employment in primary industries and associated processing was estimated to be around 74,000 jobs (up by 6%) in primary industries and associated processing, while the contribution of primary production activity (agriculture, forestry and fishing) to the State’s economy (Gross State Product) was up by 24% totalling $6.0 billion.
Overseas exports of agriculture, food, wine and forestry products increased by 8%, totalling $6.05 billion, a major contributor being grain exports which increased by 60% in value.
Despite ongoing trade tensions with China, it remains the biggest overseas market accounting for 17% of the total food and agribusiness exports despite falling by 30% in 2020-21. Wine was the biggest sector to be affected due to the Chinese implementation of a wine tariff with a decrease in total wine exports by 12% to $1.65 billion.
The Scorecard includes the revenue, sales, exports and gross value production of primary industries sectors and associated processing such as field crops, livestock, horticulture, wine, seafood, dairy, forestry, wool, skins, seeds and animal feed.
To view the Scorecard results visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/scorecards