News / Mixed fortunes for Australian trade: air freight subsidies but ocean constraints

Aussie exporters received a shot in the arm today with news of a fresh round of subsidies for agri-filled freighter flights – but importers face capacity constraints on ocean freight.

An extra A$240m (US$166m) has been earmarked for the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), launched in April after agricultural exporters were left reeling by the sudden elimination of 91% of air cargo capacity.

The grounding of passenger fleets due to coronavirus meant Australia’s high-value agricultural exports, such as seafood, premium red meat, ...