Outlook for current and prospective commodities Max Foster
Overview Kimberley region agriculture Beef industry –WA live cattle exports –Kimberley cattle property performance Ord River Irrigation Area –Existing crops –Prospective crops
Value of agricultural production, Kimberley, $m
Beef cattle
Live cattle exports, Australia $/hd ‘000
Kimberley beef cattle properties Average per farm $’
Rates of return, Kimberley beef cattle properties %
Ord River Irrigation Area
Ord River Irrigation Area Land use,
Sandalwood
Sandalwood oil: US imports and import prices from India t US$/kg 2009
Chinese Taipei: Sandalwood Imports and import prices tUS$/t 2009 US$/kg
Horticulture
Horticulture outlook Domestic markets Strong growth in demand, particularly for fresh produce ORIA producers benefiting from seasonal price premiums World markets Rapid growth in the value of world fruit, nut and vegetable trade
Value of Australian horticulture production $m
Value of world fruit and vegetable trade US$m 2009
Premiums for selected ORIA horticultural products Perth market %
Emerging and prospective crops Chia Cotton Exotic tropical fruit Native foods Food crops –Rice?
Cotton: daily indicator price Daily to 12 May 2009 c/lb
Australia cotton returns $/bale USc/lb
Summary of outlook Solid returns to the Kimberley beef industry Continuing strong demand for ORIA horticultural products –However, expansion in production of some horticultural products could pressure seasonal price premiums Interesting possibilities for ‘new’ irrigated crops