South Australia's exports have broken multiple records under the Malinauskas Labor Government, reaching an all-time high of $18.2 billion.
This marks the first time South Australian exports have exceeded $18 billion – soaring past the previous record of $17.9 billion in January 2024.
According to the latest ABS statistics, in the year to February 2026 South Australia's exports grew by 8.9 per cent (up $1.5 billion) on the previous twelve months - far outpacing the nation's average growth of three per cent.
This result is another major achievement for the state's economy and comes as South Australia last week led the way in the latest ANZ Stateometer, with our state recording the highest above-trend economic performance in the nation.
The record value of exports is a monumental milestone for our state which has faced significant recent environmental challenges including drought conditions, floods in the outback and the algal bloom.
SA's export surge was driven by growth in four of the state's top five markets, with significant increases in exports to:
- United States - up 35 per cent to $2.77 billion
- India - up 48 per cent to $1.69 billion
- Malaysia - up 47 per cent to $1.48 billion
- Thailand - up 31 per cent to $720 million
Exports to China, South Australia's largest trading partner, remained relatively steady at $3.9 billion.
Globally, the state's largest export was copper – up 56.1 per cent to a record $5.1 billion in the last 12 months.
With the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement (A-EU FTA) finalised last month by the Albanese Labor Government, South Australian exporters are soon set to benefit from new opportunities to export their world-class goods to the EU, including critical minerals, copper, wine, wheat, beef, seafood and sheep meat.
South Australian exports to the EU have grown over the last year. In the year to February, they were at $1.11 billion, growing more than 21.3 per cent. South Australia is also outperforming national exports to the EU, growing its share of Australia's exports from 5.3 per cent to 8.1 per cent.
As put by Chris Picton
South Australia's exports are the highest they have ever been, further exceeding record-high values previously achieved by the Malinauskas Labor Government in recent years.
We're building export growth across many of our largest trading partners, positioning us well to respond to global economic headwinds.
Our government is backing our state's businesses and the more than 220,000 jobs across South Australia that are linked to exports.
We greatly value the efforts of the Albanese Government and Federal Trade Minister Don Farrell to finalise the Australia-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
This historic agreement will further underpin our state's export growth in the years ahead.
