Page 22 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • TRADE

State of trade

EXPORT MARKETS
Despite a drop-off in exports from Cairns
over the past decade, a focus on higher value
products is producing positive signs.
Words Renee Cluff
Specialised machinery, live fish and croc skins contributed most
to the $314 million value of exports from Cairns last financial
year. Dale Edney, the regional officer for Trade and Investment
Queensland, told Tropic the live fish trade in particular has been
one of strong growth. “We’ve got a solid base in coral trout and
live fish exports, which gives critical mass,” he said. “90% of
what’s going to Hong Kong and China is live fish and crayfish.”
As Tropic went to print, high-level discussions were continuing
on how to fill the air freight gap left by Cathay Pacific, which has 1
been the traditional carrier of live fish. However, there are other
bright spots in export trade. Here, we examine the trade figures
that matter most.
Port of Cairns exports GOODS EXPORTED
2018/19 Industrial and specialised
Value: $314,380,870 machinery: $70,338,055
Fish and crustaceans:
Gross Weight: 75,268,031 kg $56,882,284
2008/09 Transport equipment, ie 2
Value: $529,187,770 cars: $26,630,000
Gross Weight: 259,396,123 kg Hides & skins: $8,616,178 3
MODE OF TRANSPORT Sugar: $7,002,331
Air: $146, 056, 372 Fruit & veg: $2,840,514 (not FUN FACTS IN TNQ TRADE
Ship: $168, 324, 498 counting produce sent to other ports
before being exported)
HIGHEST VALUE TRADING
PARTNERS PHOTOS:
Indonesia: $156,602,457 1. Cairns Airport freight France was sent Indonesia received Hong Kong was
2. Dale Edney
Papua New Guinea: $47,531,547 3. Lae’s NADZAB airport $6,781,918 worth $37,326,144 worth sent $22,424,188
China: $ 31,808,662 4. Team at Wafi Golpu mine UXO of hides and skins of specialised worth of fish and
scanning along the NAR
Hong Kong: $26,255,391 5. Wafi Golpu Exploration Camp (croc handbags!) machinery crustaceans
Source: TIQ via ABS reported data 2018/19
Opportunity Strikes

THE IRON’S HOT
Cairns businesses are being urged in the past. With the last LNG project
to make their move now to secure everyone thought we were going to
contracts for two projects in make a motser out of it, we woke up
neighbouring Papua New Guinea worth one day and the rest of the world were
almost AUD$15 billion combined. engaged but they were engaged several
The most significant is the $13 billion years before it opened. Now is the
Wafi-Golpu copper and gold project, a time to build the networks and get the 4
Newcrest Mining and Harmony Gold contacts.” The project will employ 2,500
joint venture located near Cairns’ sister people during construction and 850
city of Lae. Gary Aylward of Tradelinked once it’s operational, with opportunities
Cairns-PNG-Pacific told Tropic the for specialised FIFO workers, managers
project’s in the final stages of approvals. and skills training specialists.
“They believe it will end up being one At the same time, work could 5
of the top five mines in the world when commence by the end of the year on
it’s fully operational with a life cycle the redevelopment of Lae’s NADZAB that this is happening,” Mr Aylward said.
beyond 40 years,” he said. “We in the Airport, a $1.3 billion dollar project being A business case is also being developed
business community in Cairns need to funded by the Japanese Government. for the re-introduction of direct flights
pull our finger out, get active, and not sit “They’re global tenders so we’re saying between Cairns and Lae once the
back and wait because we’ve done that to businesses you need to be aware airport upgrade is complete.

22 • Tropic • Issue 20