New air freight network to boost seafood exports – Register NOW

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) has now formed featuring a network of 15 air freight service providers and freight forwarders to accelerate delivery of agricultural and seafood exports into key overseas markets.

Austrade hosted a virtual industry briefing on IFAM on 24 April which covered the key goals and challenges for this interim emergency freight measure.

Among the notable points are:

  • IFAM contributes to a percentage of the freight spread, not all costs.
  • The focus of IFAM is to move high-value product into high-value priority markets with large orders, or the consolidation of multiple smaller orders.
  • If your business and/or industry is not in position to export larger volumes (for a range of reasons), the IFAM committee have stressed the need for establishing unity and teamwork across industries and across traditional commercial rivals. There is a need to work together to form a consolidated, shared block of freight to maximise opportunities to access air freight capacity.
  • Industries need to work closely with their air freight agent.

This federal government initiative makes its decisions based on the national interest with an emphasis on re-opening priority markets and working to ensure Australia does not lose its market share.

In the first three weeks of its operation, over 560 Australian businesses have registered their interest in utilising the 55 freight flights, as exporters re-establish global sales networks.

Registration is essential, as is completing all questions and filling in all columns. Submissions lacking information will not be prioritised.

As advised previously, if you submitted your IFAM information prior to 16 April, you need to update and do it again. Re-submit through the link at https://haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/international-freight-assistance, so they can understand your product, freight and destination market requirements.

It is important that you register this information BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY.

The COVID-19 crisis has led to major air freight shortages and disrupted supply chains around the world as passenger flights shut down. Around 90 percent of air freight is carried in the cargo holds of passenger services, so the closure of these flights has had a significant impact on freight forwarding.

Rock lobster and other WA products are already flying on these services to international ports. With demand starting to return, this network will be critical to helping our seafood exporters re-establish themselves in key markets around the world.

For more information on the International Freight Assistance Mechanism download the fact sheet or the joint media statement.

You can also find more information at www.austrade.gov.au/ifam.