In March 1997, the Australian Horticultural Corporation estimated there were over 1.3 million mango trees in Australia, more than half of which were less than six years old. Many of those trees are only now coming into full production. I know the weather has not always been kind to mango growers, and in some seasons the returns may not have been as good as expected. But all things being equal, I expect the size and value of Australia's mango crop will continue to increase. In global terms, Australia remains a very small player, with less than 0.2 per cent of world mango production and about 0.5 per cent of world mango exports.
Similar figures apply for other tropical and subtropical fruits.
For example, Australia produces 1.2 per cent of the world's pineapples, less than 1 per cent of the world's avocados, and less than 0.2 per cent of the world's papaya. It is not surprising, therefore, that Australia is also a fairly small player in the world trade of these products. However, as Australia continues to develop its tropical north, there is considerable potential for increasing the production and export of our tropical and subtropical fruits. The recent establishment, for example, of durian, mangosteen, rambutan and lychee industries shows that the commercial potential of these products is being recognised within Australia. If these industries plan to grow and establish an export presence, they will need to incorporate the discoveries and improvements that come from a sustained research and development effort.