End to China's Australian rock lobster ban 'very near'

Trade Minister Don Farrell (left) hopes China will soon be taking Australian rock lobsters again.

China's ban on Australian rock lobster is nearing an end, Australia's trade minister says, as one state readies for the lucrative market to reopen.

South Australia has announced a $475,000 seafood and lobster package to help the industries restore ties with Chinese buyers as trade restrictions ease.

The ban on exporting live rock lobsters has crippled the SA seafood industry over the past four years after more than $70 million of southern rock lobster was exported to China in 2019.

SA Trade and Investment Minister Joe Szakacs said roughly 80 per cent of the state's southern rock lobsters were sent overseas and total exports had fallen from $80 million a year to $30 million.

"Seaford here in South Australia is part of our DNA," he told reporters on Saturday.

"Having said that, there are some serious global factors that are impacting both the viability as well as the economic output of our local industry."

Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Australia earlier in June raised hopes of Beijing lifting all remaining trade sanctions but bans remain for rock lobster and two abattoirs.

Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell said the funding package would put SA suppliers ahead of the curve when the Chinese lobster market reopened and would diversify their trade overseas.

"I'm very confident that in the very near future (after the) recent visit by the Chinese premier and the Chinese state minister, that we will get the final product that has been the subject to these impedients back into the Chinese market," he said.

"They're getting ready for that change ... to ensure wonderful South Australian rock lobster quickly gets back into the Chinese market, but more importantly develops alternative markets.

"We don't ever want to find ourselves in a situation where you're so dependent on one market that if something goes wrong you create problems for jobs and prosperity."

Before the ban, SA exported $70 million worth of rock lobsters to China. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The $475,000 program will support seafood exporters to attend major international trade events and bring key importers to South Australia to familiarise them with local suppliers.

An SA seafood marketing campaign will also be launched for international audiences, including China and Japan.

Andrew Ferguson, managing director of a southern rock lobster supplier, said the SA market had been severely hit by the China ban but praised the initiatives.

"The marketplace is very slow outside of China because we haven't developed the marketplace," he said.

"We're trying to manage the new market opportunities ... but we can't do it alone."