QLD exports to China hit highest level since relationship hit skids

Queensland’s exports to China have hit their highest level since relations fell apart during the pandemic.

Queensland’s exports to China have hit their highest level since Australia’s relationship with Beijing fell apart during the pandemic, overtaking Japan again as the state’s largest trading partner.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly to Shanghai and Beijing this weekend for the first official visit by an Australian leader since 2016, in another sign relations are thawing.

He will be attending the China International Import Expo with Premier Li Keqiang, where the Queensland Government is expected to have exhibits.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Queensland sent $17.6bn in exports to China in the first nine months of this year, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Thursday, topping exports to Japan by $3bn.

It is almost a 40 per cent increase on the same period last year, and the highest in that time frame since 2019 when almost $22bn in Queensland goods were exported to China.

Relations between the two countries became increasingly rocky from 2020 after the Morrison Government called for an investigation into the origin of Covid-19.

China put about $20bn of sanctions on Australian products, including coal which had been worth about $10bn a year to Queensland.

Only about $1.3bn of those sanctions remain, focused on beef, wine and rock lobsters.

While no breakdown was available of which exports were responsible for the increase in trade, coal shipments to China have been steadily been increasing since February this year as the unofficial ban was lifted.

Ahead of his trip, Mr Albanese said his government had taken a “patient, calibrated and deliberate approach” to stabilising the relationship with China.

“It’s why our Government is seeking to build on the tremendous competitive advantage Australia has in resources and critical minerals and convert that to a world-leading position in renewable energy, technology and advanced manufacturing,” he said.

Earlier this week he promised to raise the outstanding trade sanctions with Premier Li and President Xi Jinping, saying he would always “raise impediments to Australia’s trade”.

Trade Minister Don Farrell will also be travelling to China, meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao at the expo.

China moved Australia back into “approved destination status” on August 10, with a phased reopening to the travel taking place, which is expected to drive increased demand for flights from China to Australia, including direct flights to Queensland.

The first flight from China to Brisbane in more than three years arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday this week.