South Australian Premier Mike Rann has lobbied officials from China's biggest brewery to take more of the state's barley, Australian media reported on November 6. Mr Rann, who has been touring South Korea and China last week, said he would press SA's clean, green image when he met chiefs from the Qingdao Brewery. "My message to brewery management is that South Australia is a keen supplier of the clean, green product that will help them make the best tasting beer possible," the premier said in a statement. "We want to nurture our export opportunities and continue to grow with the brewer's demands."

Last year South Australia's barley exports to Qingdao fell by 60,000 tonnes because of the drought, costing local producers about $9 million. However, Mr Rann said this year local barley growers were expecting a record crop.

14 November, 2003