South Australia Lobster Exports Hit Record High After Beijing Lifts Trade Ban

Lobster exports from South Australia (SA) have hit record levels, less than a year after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) lifted its trade barriers.

SA lobster exports have more than doubled over the past year to $94.7 million—an increase of $54.6 million or 136 percent, according to a government statement on Oct. 10.

“SA’s total seafood exports are now approaching a quarter of a billion dollars, increasing by nearly $100 million or more than 60 percent in the past year,” reads the statement.

The state government attributed this to the $475,000 Seafood Export Growth Program launched by Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas in July 2024.

“The package has since supported 27 key seafood businesses to access trade advisers and meet with key buyers here in SA and at international trade events. It has also funded a marketing campaign for audiences in China and Japan,” the government said.

Japan remains SA’s largest seafood export market, growing nearly 90 percent, or $55.6 million to $118.8 million. China moved up to second, growing over fivefold to $76.1 million—up 425 percent.

“SA’s top lobster market in this period was China, having bought more than $64 million worth of the premium seafood in just eight months, with trade restrictions having only lifted in late December last year,” it said.

Beijing’s import ban on Australian live lobsters had been in place for over four years before the restriction was lifted. They were imposed as political retaliation after the former Morrison government called for an investigation into the origin of COVID-19.

SA Minister for Trade and Investment Joe Szakacs said his government acted early to ensure the exporters were ready to move the moment trade resumed.

“Like with wine earlier and U.S. tariffs since, we anticipated the opportunity this would present and backed our sector through the Seafood Export Growth Program so they could capitalise on renewed access to the Chinese market,” said Szakacs in a statement on Oct. 10.

“I thank the Albanese Labor Government, and the leadership of ministers Wong and Farrell, for their diligent diplomatic efforts to stabilise our country’s relationship with China.”

Tony Abbott Warns of CCP’s Threat

The SA state minister’s celebration comes as former Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is part of a “very serious challenge.”

“There is no doubt China is engaged in grey zone warfare against many Western countries, including Australia, including Britain,” Abbott said at the Politico Pub discussion held during the UK Conservative Conference last week.

“I regret to say that this is a very serious challenge, much more serious, I think, in the long run, than the old Soviet Union ever was.”

States Called to Diversify Trade

SA is not the only Australian state warned about the threat of over-reliance on the CCP.

In late September, Western Australian (WA) Premier Roger Cook was criticised for visiting China while the state’s healthcare system is buckling under pressure.

China observer Bin Lin, who holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), warned of the “very substantial” scale of WA’s trade with the CCP and called for the diversification of trade partners.

In 2024, WA exported $234.1 billion (US$154.31 billion) worth of goods, accounting for 45.4 percent of the value of Australia’s total goods exports.

Of this, $117.3 billion (50.4 percent) was directed to China, according to state government statistics.

“The CCP seeks to use these economic and trade relations to make Australia align with its political demands … The CCP’s demands will increasingly grow,” Lin said.

“Many politicians in Western countries prioritise money over everything else. In addition to money, there are also human rights, freedom for the people, and democracy.”