Australia’s second-largest province, Queensland, sees a good potential for new commercial partnerships in food and agribusiness with India, according to Abhinav Bhatia, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner- South Asia, Trade and Investment Queensland.The partnerships can be in premium categories such as macadamias - nuts rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants - avocados, Manuka honey, selected horticulture and wellness products, he told businessline in an online interaction.“Queensland can offer India a reliable supply, strong provenance, food safety, traceability and high-quality production standards. It can also contribute expertise in agri-technology, cold chains, sustainable farming and value-added food processing,” said Bhatia.Opportunity for Australian macadamiasIn return, Queensland sees India not just as a buyer, but as a strategic partner. Indian companies bring scale, processing capability, distribution networks, e-commerce reach and deep consumer-market understanding, he said.There is scope for Queensland to engage more with Indian products and capabilities such as spices, specialty ingredients, tea, textiles, packaging, pharmaceuticals and technology-led supply-chain solutions.“India is an emerging opportunity for Australian macadamias. Demand is being supported by rising interest in premium nuts, healthy snacking, bakery and confectionery applications, and high-quality gifting products,” he said.For Queensland, macadamias represent exactly the kind of premium product that can build deeper engagement with India’s modern retail, food service and health-focused consumer markets — high quality, traceable, nutritious and backed by a strong Australian provenance story.Mainstay of importsStating that there is a noticeable shift like India’s imports from Queensland, he said the relationship remains anchored in large-volume commodities and inputs. However, there is growing interest in a broader basket of food, fibre and agri-related products from the Australian second-largest province.“The mainstay categories (of imports) continue to be chickpeas and other pulses, cotton, grains and fertiliser inputs. These products align closely with India’s structural demand — food security, agricultural productivity, food processing, and textile manufacturing,” said Bhatia.The trade profile between India and Queensland is gradually becoming more diversified. The Australian province is seeing stronger commercial interest in higher-value food categories, including premium horticulture, nuts, health-oriented foods and branded produce. “This reflects changes in India’s consumer market, particularly the growth of organised retail, modern food service, e-commerce grocery platforms, and an urban consumer base seeking safe, high-quality and traceable food products,” he said.4th largest export marketThe Australia–India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA) has helped improve the competitiveness of Australian agricultural exports by reducing tariffs and improving market access across a range of products, said the official. For example, Australia has seen improved opportunities for products such as avocados and macadamias, where tariff reductions and market access developments are supporting greater engagement with Indian buyers.Queensland’s goods exports to India were valued at A$14.4 billion in 2024, making India the State’s fourth-largest export market. Queensland accounts for a significant share of Australia’s exports to India, underlining the State’s role in the broader Australia–India trade relationship, said Bhatia.While resources remain the largest component of the trade relationship, food, fibre and agri-related exports are an important part of Queensland’s engagement with India. Over the past year, the Australian province’s food and agri-related exports to India were valued at over A$1 billion, led by products such as chickpeas and other pulses, cotton, fertilizers, selected grains, fruit and nuts.Avacados - emerging opportunityQueensland’s food and agriculture exports to India are closely aligned with Indian demand. Chickpeas and pulses support India’s food processing and consumption needs; cotton supports India’s textile and apparel value chain; and fertilisers contribute to India’s agricultural input requirements, he said.Bhatia said the Australian province’s premium food and agri exports to India are best understood across three categories: premium produce, speciality foods, and health and wellness products.In premium produce, macadamias are a particularly relevant example, as they align with India’s growing demand for premium, healthy and high-quality food products. “Avocados are another emerging category. Improved market access under AI-ECTA has created new opportunities for Australian avocado suppliers in India, particularly through premium retail, food service and modern grocery channels, he said.Manuka honeyQueensland also has premium speciality food products such as Manuka honey, which is valued because of its limited seasonal production, its link to native Leptospermum plants, and its bioactive profile, he said.A further area of opportunity is Queensland’s nutraceutical, functional food and sports wellness products. “India’s health-conscious consumers, athletes, gym-goers and urban professionals are increasingly looking for clean-label, high-quality and trusted wellness products,” the official said. Queensland has been promoting its food and agribusiness products in India through a mix of trade missions, buyer engagement, trade fair participation and consumer-facing activations, he said.A recent key initiative was the Queensland Food & Beverage Trade Mission to India in March 2026, covering Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi. The mission connected Queensland food, beverage and wellness businesses with Indian importers, distributors, retailers, food-service operators and e-commerce platforms.It also included Queensland’s participation at AAHAR 2026 in New Delhi, one of India’s major food and hospitality trade events.Product-led promotionsQueensland has also used more targeted product-led promotions. For example, the “Queensland Macadamia Soft Serve: A Summer Special” activation at Food Square in Bandra, Mumbai, introduced Indian consumers to Queensland macadamias through a locally relevant dessert format. The campaign helped showcase macadamias as a premium, versatile ingredient for India’s retail, gifting and food-service markets, said Bhatia.The Queensland senior trade and investment commissioner said in India, cold-chain infrastructure, distribution efficiency and price sensitivity are important considerations for scaling premium products.However, India has made major progress in logistics and supply chain infrastructure in recent years, improving the overall operating environment. “Importantly, India’s consumer market is also shifting towards value-based products that offer differentiation, strong provenance and a compelling story — which aligns well with Queensland’s premium food and horticulture strengths,” said Bhatia.Published on June 1, 2026