2025, Volume 28, Paper 3
ISSN: 2209-6612

The Adaptation of the Australian Barley Value Chain to the China Tariffs

Louise Campbell– Undergraduate student, University of Melbourne, Parkville

Abstract

Between 2014 and 2019, China accounted for 60-75 per cent of Australia’s total barley exports, with the majority being malt barley, a high-quality grain that was sold at a premium price. However, the Chinese government’s imposition of an 80.5 per cent tariff on Australian barley in 2020 significantly impacted the barley value chain. This tariff directly affected pricing, as China had been willing to pay a premium for malt barley unlike other markets that predominantly purchase lower-value feed barley. The tariff disrupted trade relations with China and forced the Australian barley industry to diversify and seek alternative trade partners. In this paper, these adaptations are discussed in terms of value chain principles.

 Keywords: Tariff, Barley, Australia, China, Value Chain, Trade 

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