Welcome The Australian Horticultural Exporters Association is an independant and autonomous association of Australian horticultural exporter organisations which represents the interests of its members to Government and Industry in the pursuit of improving the profitability and sustainability of the fresh horticultural  export industry.   ... MISSING OUT ON REGULAR EXPORT UPDATES? ....it costs just $10.00* a week to get regular updates! If you are an exporter,grower, packer or involved in Australian horticultural exports, then there's plenty of good reasons to join the Peak industry body that represents Australian Horticultural Exporters and keeps them informed. Become a member Today! –  It costs as little as $10.00 a week to join the A.H.E.A.! * new member offer ( plus GST ) Become a Subscriber or Member . Click on the link for details                     Sponsorship and Advertising opportunities available. Your organization could regularly reach our readers who are involved with , or interested in fruit and vegetable exporting. Click on the heading for more details or contact us at ahea@ahea.com.au

Making News...............................   Aussie $$ dives on risk aversion. Current indicative  buy rates for Friday 3rd July 2009 at 9.00am Data sources Custom House & Major Banks Foreign Exchange Rates. ( TT * Bank  Notes)             See more... Aussie dollar rates over the last few days on Industry news page.  The Aussie, along with most currencies, took a dive last night as a wave of risk aversion swept through the markets. Worse than expected US unemployment figures saw traders head for the exits, selling anything perceived as a risky asset including equities, commodities and the Aussie. Current weak support lies at 0.79, while the next major test to the downside lies at the June 23 low of 0.7787. No data of note is released today so it will have to wait to see if the Aussie can find support in local trading, or if the selloff will continue. $A vs Rate Change $A vs Rate Change USD  0.7908 -1.5% GBP  0.4828 -1.5% EURO  0.5659 -0.8%   JPY  75.64 -3% NZD  1.2599 0%   HKD  6.1164 -2.2% SGD  1.1313 -1.2%   IDR 7896 -2.2% CNY  5.3387  -2.2%   MYR*  2.7980 -1.7% TWD* 26.451 -0.1%   THB 27.0821 -1.3% Note: USD= US dollar GBP= UK pound EURO= EU currency JPY= Japan Yen NZD= NZ dollar HKD= HK dollar SGD= Singapore dollar IDR= Indonesia rupiah CNY= China renminbi MYR= Malaysia ringgit TWD= Taiwan dollar THB= Thai Baht. All care is taken in reproducing this information, but AHEA does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or correctness of the data, which should be used as a guide only.

Aust:  Exporters hurt as  AQIS fee increases kick in The impact of the 40% contribution withdrawal and  fees increases was felt yesterday and it  was a huge kick in the stomach  for fresh fruit and vegetable exporters. AQIS inspection  fees increased from  1st July, and rates  have gone from A$42/15mins  to A$68/15mins,   or from A$168/hr to A$272/hr.  A 62% increase !!!!!! The cost to industry over the next 12 months while efficiencies are worked out will be considerable. The Australian Horticultural Exporters Association (AHEA)  remains opposed to the increases and the withdrawal of the 40% government contribution , and argue  that  horticulture should have been treated as a special case, because it's heavily reliant on getting fresh produce into export markets," AHEA deputy chair David Minnis said. While  Mr Burke has undertaken to talk with the AHEA about their concerns,  and  have an independent review of the new system within a year, it may be too late for some smaller export companies. Coalition agriculture spokesman John Cobb said the coalition still had concerns and needed to see evidence of efficiencies and cost savings in inspection processes, and has  reserved their  right to move against the plan again  when Parliament sits again in August.

Further  in  Industry  News....  Aust: Hort award  changes push F & V prices up 20% WTO  hear NZ apple case this week Tariff deals on Aust Hort  exports should improve. and  more........... In Media Releases.......... AQIS Fee Increases in Market  Updates...... Latest Thailand update - new protocols deferred  30.6.09 Latest  on mangoes & citrus to China - 11.6.09  Latest Taiwan update   16.6.09 and more ............  in Shipping ......   US $$ historical figures  - in shipping schedules Latest   surcharges  June  2009   -  in Freight Rates  Can't access all the news stories?........ Become a subscriber today!               ************************************************************

AHEA Members