China Exports 10x More Than Australia — What That Means for Freight
We all know China is a global export powerhouse. But did you realise it exports ten times more than Australia?
It’s a stat that surprises a lot of people.
And for those of us in freight forwarding, supply chain, and logistics, it’s more than just a trivia fact — it has real implications for how we hire, trade, and plan.
📦 Australia Is a Small Player in Volume — But Not in Value
According to data from Voronoi, China shipped over $3.7 trillion worth of goods last year.
Australia? Around $370 billion.
But here’s the thing — Australia exports fewer goods, but of high strategic value:
Raw materials (iron ore, coal, gas)
Agriculture
Niche manufacturing (pharma, tech components)
This creates an interesting challenge for freight forwarders:
High-value cargo, with low volume and complex routing.
🚢 So What Does This Mean for Local Freight Teams?
1. Fewer containers, but more complexity.
Australian exporters rely on specialist knowledge:
Dangerous goods
Out-of-gauge freight
Perishable handling
Multi-modal coordination
That means companies need people who understand process, compliance, and customer care — not just scale.
2. Import volume dominates — but China’s dominance adds risk.
Most Aussie freight businesses manage far more inbound than outbound. That’s especially true in retail, manufacturing, and tech.
This makes us vulnerable to:
Port congestion in Asia
China–Australia political tensions
Changes in trade terms or tariffs
Teams must be agile and informed, not just reactive.
3. Export-savvy candidates are in high demand.
Because Australia exports less, fewer local professionals get real end-to-end export exposure — especially outside major hubs.
If you find someone who’s:
Handled export documentation
Managed client expectations globally
Navigated cross-border delays and customs
…hold onto them.
💬 Final Thought
Yes, China exports 10x more than Australia — but Australia plays a premium game.
For freight businesses, this means investing in talent who can:
Solve problems quickly
Build trust with clients
Handle complexity without volume
Because in our corner of the world, quality beats quantity — every time.