Factsheet

Use our facts and figures to promote the 62nd Australian Export Awards.

2024 key facts

  • The Australian Export Awards are Australia's longest running business awards program.
  • The program is celebrating its 62nd year in 2024.
  • In 1963, the Export Development Council wanted to recognise Australian businesses with outstanding export success. The inaugural Australian Export Awards national ceremony was held in Canberra on 27 November of that year.
  • Since the first national ceremony, the awards have recognised 2089 Australian businesses as national finalists, including 763 businesses that have gone on to win a national award.
  • The Australian Export Awards are presented by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade).
  • The Australian Export Awards recognises outstanding, innovative and inspiring exporters, providing those businesses a chance to tell their export story in Australia and on a global stage.
  • Businesses must apply in their home state or territory; state and territory winners of the 13 national categories become national finalists in the program.
  • National winners of each category and the Australian Exporter of the Year are announced at an award ceremony at Parliament House Canberra in late November.
  • This year’s national ceremony will be held on 20 November 2024.
  • The Minister for Trade and Tourism is invited to host the national awards ceremony.

2024 Program statistics

In the 2024 Australian Export Awards:

  • 363 applications were submitted across 8 states and territories
  • 88 Australian businesses were announced as national finalists (State and Territory winners of the national award categories).   

2024 National finalists statistics 

In 2024, the Australian Export Awards national finalists:

  • employed more than 24,300 people in FY2023-24
  • generated over $7.8 billion in export earnings in FY2023-24, including $6 billion from 4 ASX listed companies 
  • 44% (39 businesses) are new to the Australian Export Awards program
  • 52% (46 businesses) are classified as small businesses with an annual turnover of less than $10 million
  • 31% (27 businesses) are led by women (either independently or jointly)
  • includes one First Nations business (at least 50% owned by indigenous persons)
  • includes 2 businesses who were established in 1900, and one business who was established as recently as 2022
  • the finalist with the longest export history started exporting in 1923.

More information

All queries should be emailed to export.awards@austrade.gov.au