Factsheet

The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

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.
Since the first national ceremony, the awards have recognised 2138 Australian businesses as national finalists, including 771 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 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.

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).

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.

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