By Jason Scott
Oct. 22 (Bloomberg) — Food and agricultural commodity exports from Western Australia rose 28 percent to a record A$6 billion ($5.6 billion) in the 12 months to June 30, spurred by rising demand from Asia and the Middle East.
“Western Australia has less than 10 percent of Australia’s farms, but we produce nearly 20 percent of Australia’s total agriculture and food exports,” Terry Redman, the state’s agriculture and food minister, said in a statement today. “This is a real testament to the strength of our industries.
Shipments to the Middle East rose 19 percent by value to a record A$1.6 billion, according to the statement. Indonesia bought A$931 million worth of products, led by grains, cattle and meat, it said. The statement didn’t provide volume figures.
Western Australia, the nation’s biggest grain-growing and exporting region, produced a total grain crop of 12.3 million metric tons last year, CBH Group, the nation’s largest wheat shipper, said in July.

Top markets for Western Australian products in 2008-09

1 - Indonesia: A$931 million
2 - Japan: A$748 million
3 – China (including Hong Kong): $686 million
4 - Iran: A$465 million
5 – South Korea: A$408 million

Major Western Australia exports in 2008-09

1 - Wheat: A$2.7 billion
2 - Canola: A$535 million
3 – Livestock: A$487 million
4 - Meat: A$464 million
5 – Wool: A$418 million