2025 key facts
- The Australian Export Awards are Australia's longest running business awards program.
- The program is celebrating its 63rd year in 2025.
- 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.
- 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 14 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 in November 2025.
- 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