Australia
June 4, 2025
The Australian grain industry has been trading various grains into South Asia for decades. Including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, Australia’s principal exports in recent years have been lentils, chickpeas, canola and wheat, with smaller quantities of oats and barley.
Yet ask anyone involved and they will say there is opportunity to do more, provided you do the work. It might sound simple, but international trade, particularly in staple food products such as grain, is actually very complex.
Grains Australia General Manager Trade and Market Access, John Ackerman, said building strong, resilient and constructive trading relationships between countries requires clear understanding across governments and industry players of the trading environment available to commercial businesses.
“When it comes to food, every country balances what it needs that can be produced locally with what might be imported, and how that may work in the country’s interests in the short and longer terms,” Dr Ackerman said.
“A trading relationship to address that requires, among other things, education, understanding and mutual respect between the parties around the conditions involved, the trading environment, and how the parties might work to bring those things together.
“Increasing volumes means increasing complexity, hence the need for increased effort.”
Trade complexity is why Grains Australia representatives have visited India twice during 2025; first to attend the India Pulses and Grains Association’s Pulses Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, then in March for Grain Trade Australia’s AGIC India conference in Mumbai.
Perhaps the most important feature of events like these is the opportunity to organise or participate in ‘side meetings’, whether formal or informal, with the many industry and government people who attend from various countries. Grains Australia works in with Grain Trade Australia and the Australian Government as appropriate, with each bringing different elements to the table.
Dr Ackerman said the big topic during meetings in India was, as might be expected, the potential for tariffs to influence trade, although discussions were also about the longer-term outlook and Australia’s capability to help meet more of India’s protein and nutrition needs into the future.
“It’s more than simply supply and demand; each country benefits from learning about issues and finding solutions to the other’s needs and requirements, particularly on matters such as biosecurity, which is something that changes as technology, international rules, science and even the quarantine pests themselves evolve,” Dr Ackerman said.
“Australia seeks practical, effective and economically sound solutions that meet the importing country’s requirements and can translate into clear market signals for growers, exporters and all in the supply chain; this is the aim.
“The positive attitude at these meetings is reflective of the ongoing work of the Agriculture Counsellor, Kiran Karamil, the long-term, well-developed relationships of the Grains Australia Pulse Council Chair, Peter Wilson, and the significant market engagement by Grains Australia Senior Manager, Trade and Market Access, Peter Breguet,” he said.
One of the speakers at AGIC India was Kathy La Macchia, General Manager Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council, who is also a member of Grains Australia’s Pulse Council.
Dr Ackerman said the inclusion of grain nutrition was a popular conference element.
“It’s important to be aware that India is developing economically and has a relatively young population interested in focusing on health and nutrition, including new and innovative foods with an emphasis on oats,” Dr Ackerman said.
“Nutrition was a very popular topic amongst attendees at AGIC India, including for various Australian trade partners in attendance, seen as adding benefit to customer engagement and relationships,” he said.
Grains Australia, an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation, is responsible for vital industry services and functions that improve the industry’s competitiveness and profitability.
About Grains Australia
Grains Australia delivers value to the Australian grains industry through the provision of industry services and functions including management of trade market access, classification, market insights and market education that improves the industry’s competitiveness and profitability.
Grains Australia is an initiative of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). GRDC leads investment in grains research, development and extension (RD&E) in Australia to create enduring profitability for grain growers.
A partnership between the Australian Government and grain growers, GRDC’s primary objective is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the industry and the wider community.
Topics
Species
