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Australian Mandarin Exports

Australian Mandarin Exports explained for Australian readers, with local season, shopping, growing, recipe, nutrition, or industry context.

By Mandarins.com.au Editorial Updated 1 June 2026

Australian mandarin exports reached a record 105,000 metric tonnes in the 2024/25 marketing year, with Thailand, Japan, and China the top three destinations. Mandarin exports are now a bigger story within Australian citrus than they were a decade ago, driven by expanded plantings, new seedless varieties, and a season window that aligns with northern hemisphere off-peak supply.

Quick numbers: Australian mandarin exports

  • 2024/25 forecast: 105,000 metric tonnes (record high)
  • 2016 recorded: 49,000 tonnes at a value of $95 million (Citrus Australia)
  • Combined orange and mandarin export value doubled from $235 million in 2009/10 to $520 million in 2019/20 (ABARES)
  • In 2019, Australia was the world’s tenth largest citrus exporter
  • Australia was the second largest source of citrus imports to ASEAN countries overall in 2019

Mandarin production nationally hit 225,000 metric tonnes in 2024/25, the highest on record, supported by a 64 per cent increase in planted area and a shift toward seedless and low-seed varieties.

Top destinations

Thailand is the single largest destination for Australian mandarin exports by recent count, overtaking China. Queensland exporters account for the bulk of Thailand-bound fruit: in 2016, Queensland sent around 7,500 of the roughly 9,000 tonnes that went to Thailand, a 25 per cent increase on the prior year. Thai import demand for premium southern-hemisphere mandarins has grown steadily.

Japan has historically been Australia’s second-largest market. In 2016, Japan received around 38,000 tonnes of total citrus valued at $54 million. Japan’s strong preference for consistent quality and low-seed content pushes Australian exporters toward newer mandarin varieties.

China was the largest single destination in 2016 with just under 40,000 tonnes valued at $72 million. Trade volumes into Greater China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan) have run at around 75,000 tonnes per annum for citrus overall, though the split between product types shifts year to year. In 2023, China received $64.8 million of Australian citrus.

Hong Kong recorded around 30,000 tonnes of total Australian citrus in 2016, down from 45,000 tonnes in 2015. Hong Kong remained the third largest destination by value in 2023 at $38.5 million.

South Korea is a growing market under the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement (KAFTA).

Vietnam more than doubled volumes to just over 3,000 tonnes in 2016 from a previous record of 1,300 tonnes.

United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia each recorded around 12,000 tonnes of total Australian citrus in 2016.

United States: Australian mandarin exports to the US have historically run at 9,000 to 10,000 tonnes per season. A 10 per cent US tariff on Australian citrus, introduced in April 2025, added cost pressure. Despite this, Australian exporters captured an estimated 51 per cent of the US mandarin import market in the 2025 season.

Why mandarins matter for Australian citrus exports

Citrus Australia’s export data shows that mandarins now account for a significant and growing share of total citrus export volume. In 2016, mandarin exports were 49,000 tonnes against 166,000 tonnes of oranges. By 2024/25, mandarin exports are forecast to reach 105,000 tonnes, while orange exports are projected at 190,000 tonnes. The mandarin share of total export volume has grown from around 23 per cent to over 35 per cent in that period.

The key commercial advantage for Australian mandarins is timing. Australia’s harvest runs April to October, reaching peak export volumes from June to August. This falls during the northern hemisphere off-season, when fruit from Spain, Morocco, Japan, and China is not being harvested. Southern hemisphere competitors include South Africa and Chile.

Lunar New Year window

Australian mandarins do not typically align with the Lunar New Year calendar. The festival falls in January or February, when southern hemisphere harvest is still months away. Early Queensland fruit can sometimes supply late-January demand in Asian markets, but the main Lunar New Year trade is served by northern hemisphere producers.

The post-harvest trade window, from May to August, is Australia’s core export period. Demand from Asian markets during this period is driven by domestic consumption and food service use, not solely by festive buying.

Free trade agreements

Several free trade agreements have reduced tariffs on Australian citrus in key markets:

  • AANZFTA (ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area): in force from 2010 to 2012. Covers Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and other ASEAN members.
  • ChAFTA (China-Australia Free Trade Agreement): phased tariff reductions on Australian citrus into China.
  • JAEPA (Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement): reduced Japanese tariffs on Australian citrus over time.
  • KAFTA (Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement): opened the South Korean market to Australian citrus with reduced duties.
  • AI-ECTA (Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement): immediately reduced tariffs on Australian oranges and mandarins by 50 per cent on an annual quota of 13,700 tonnes, creating a new market opportunity.

ABARES found that Australia negotiated 11 key market access achievements for citrus exports between July 2013 and April 2020, most of them related to biosecurity protocols required to manage pest spread risk.

Cold treatment and phytosanitary protocols

Access to some markets requires cold treatment of fruit during shipping to manage the risk of pests including Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni). Cold treatment typically involves holding fruit at a prescribed low temperature for a set number of days during transit. Japan, the US, and some other markets require this.

Industry Authorised Officers, a reform introduced in the 2010s, replaced traditional government inspection at export. Growers and packhouses accredited under the scheme can certify their own fruit for export, reducing delays and cost. Citrus Australia describes this biosecurity self-regulation model as a significant factor in Australia’s export competitiveness.

Victorian growers export the most by state at 38 per cent of total volume, followed by South Australia at 32 per cent. Queensland and NSW have both grown their export share. WA started from a small base but recorded a 43 per cent increase in one recent season.

The 2025 season was described as a “perfect storm” of production volume and market pressure. Record mandarin output competed with cheaper fruit from South Africa (facing 30 per cent US tariffs on mandarins) and Chilean supply. Domestic retail prices were squeezed. Exporters with premium branding and established market programs held position better than commodity suppliers.

For 2025/26, Australian mandarin production is forecast at a further record of 270,000 metric tonnes, with the potential for continued pressure on grower returns unless export demand grows at a similar rate.