Launch of Air Freight Export Council

6/12/94

Western Australia's $300 million food export industry was given a significant boost today with the launching of the Air Freight Export Council (AFEC) by Transport Minister Eric Charlton.

AFEC has been set up by the State Government to better co-ordinate the export of perishable goods by air, and guarantee sufficient air cargo space for the industry.

"For some time, the perishable exports industry has experienced real problems in getting enough space for its product, particularly during peak season," Mr Charlton said.

"The Government recognised that a co-ordinated approach was needed and established AFEC to maximise our air freight capacity, make WA producers better exporters and build a world class air freight distribution system responsive to the State's needs.

"To achieve this, AFEC is bringing together the entire export chain - airlines, freight forwarders, exporters and customers - to provide a combined organisation for the air freighting of perishables."

Mr Charlton said many visitors to Asian countries did not realise that when they sat down to dine in a restaurant there, the ingredients of their meal probably would have been flown in from Perth.

"Say you treat yourself to lunch at the Raffles in Singapore.  You order a lobster salad entree, roast beef and vegetable main course with strawberries, melon and icecream for dessert.

"All this food would have arrived from Perth by air - possibly on the same flight you came in on."

Mr Charlton said that at this time of year, large amounts of strawberries were shipped to the Middle East and Europe.

A container of strawberries, valued at $10,000, could leave Perth in the afternoon and be on Sainsbury's shelves in London the next day.  Similarly, more than 300,000 boxes of live lobsters were moved each year to the fine restaurants and hotels in Taiwan, China and Japan.

The main products air freighted from Perth included fruit and vegetables, live lobsters, yabbies, crabs and sheep, chilled fish and meat (lamb, beef and emu), fresh milk and cream, zoo animals, WA wildflowers, gold bullion and diamonds, machinery and personal effects.

Each week, more than 600 tonnes of air freight left Perth on 11 international airlines operating more than 50 weekly flights into Perth.  The value of perishable exports from WA rose from $131.6 million in 1991 to $221.4 million in 1993.

It was estimated that the value would climb to $270 million this year and to $307 million in 1995.

"It is an industry that has a high and rapidly growing value," Mr Charlton said.

"Its future needs to be ensured, and that will be done now through this improved co-ordination process that will guarantee exporters enough cargo space aboard international jets."

Mr Charlton said Air Cargo Management had been chosen as the executive officers to the Air Freight Export Council.

The company would assist AFEC and the Government to formulate strategic plans and objectives for the 1994-95 export seasons for all industry sectors.

With assistance from the Department of Transport, Customs and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, AFEC would establish a data base system to provide accurate information on all perishable products leaving WA.

Mr Charlton said a regular newsletter would also be distributed to the industry, providing information related to the perishable export scene.

He said the need for dedicated freight services would be investigated and if necessary and where possible, additional air freight capacity would be sourced.

AFEC would also provide the industry with assistance in the development of new overseas markets, and research and develop methods of improving cargo handling.

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 321 7333