7501.0 - Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, 2001-02  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/03/2003   
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MEDIA RELEASE

March 24, 2003
Embargoed 11:30am (AEST)
30/2003

First estimates on value of agricultural commodities show record year in 2001-02

The estimated gross value of Australian agricultural production was a record $39.0 billion for the year ended 30 June 2002, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today. This was an increase of 14% on the previous year value of $34.2 billion.

These are the first estimates relating to the value of Australian agricultural production for 2001-02 released by the ABS.

Crop production was valued at $20.8 billion, livestock slaughterings (and other disposals) at $11.4 billion and livestock products at $6.8 billion.

Strong growth was reported in the gross values of virtually all major commodities for 2001-02:
  • The gross value of wheat rose by 22% to a record $6.3 billion, with average price and production up on the previous year.
  • The gross values for cattle and calf slaughterings and other disposals and sheep and lamb slaughterings and other disposals increased by 11% (to $7.2 billion) and 52% (to $2.1 billion) respectively. Higher average prices were partially offset by falls in the number of total disposals.
  • The gross value of milk production rose by 20% to $3.7 billion, with increases in both average price and production.
  • The gross value of wool production increased by 6% to $2.7 billion, with an increase in average price partially offset by a 9% fall in production.
Decreases were reported in the gross value of cotton (down 7% to $1.2 billion) and rice (down by 19% to $283 million).

Further details are in Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia 2001-02 (cat. no. 7501.0).