A BUSINESS forum in Adelaide this week can help build trade connections between Australia and Southeast Asia.
That’s the view of Adrian Teaha, chair of the South Australian Freight Council who this week will be attending the Australian-ASEAN Business Forum at Adelaide Convention Centre.
“Australia is a trading nation, and getting goods to, from and across our country is critical to our standard of living,” Mr Teaha told Daily Cargo News.
“For South Australia, our key trading partners are in Asia, with strong and growing demand for high-quality perishable goods moving by air into our key markets like Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, alongside direct sea links from Adelaide to Asia.”
Mr Teaha said the value of the ASEAN forum was in connecting people, companies and decision makers on the issues that matter.
“These connections make the big challenges of distance feel smaller, and they deliver benefits that are real and lasting,” he said.
“Our supply chain, and the companies in South Australia that support it, are the reason everyday products make it into people’s homes, not just across Australia but right around the world.”
Mr Teaha said “efficient, resilient and sustainable supply chains” were crucial in making connections work “and South Australia is well placed to be a reliable partner to ASEAN”.
The ASEAN region is South Australia’s largest trading partner by export region, underlining the importance of building strong and enduring connections.
“We are seeing strong trends where technology, in particular, is being used by members and suppliers in the supply chain to improve efficiency, adapt to changing conditions and reduce costs,” Mr Teaha said.
“This shift is not only delivering benefits now but will continue to be critical in the Australian context, where distance and scale make efficiency gains essential.”
Mr Teaha said the SAFC saw increased collaboration, both formal and informal, as one of the most exciting opportunities.
“By working together, smaller exporters can achieve economies of scale, while partnering with key markets to identify and realise new opportunities,” he said.
“South Australia has the right mix of knowledge and agility to play an increasingly important role for partners in Asia.”
Mr Teaha said South Australians were innovating, leading in sustainable infrastructure, trialling lower-emission freight corridors, investing in alternative fuels and advancing more sustainable transport approaches and greater use of data-driven logistics.
“We see examples across our membership of how innovation is strengthening resilience—from the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s investment in rail, to road operators trialling electric vehicles and modern, efficient diesel trucks, through to infrastructure projects like the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass that will improve network efficiency,” he said.
“New fuel options are also emerging - often starting small but with the potential for significant impact.”
He noted Adelaide Airport’s work to support the introduction of sustainable aviation fuels as an important example, potentially transforming how high-value perishable exports reached key ASEAN markets.
“The more engaged we have been, the more South Australia’s trade has grown, with exports to ASEAN rising by around 30% over the past five years,” he said.
“The South Australian Freight Council is genuinely excited about the future. Supply chains are ultimately a function of supply and demand, and stronger, closer, more collaborative links with our ASEAN partners will deliver benefits for everyone - including the supply chain itself.”
Click for more information about the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum.