The Australian Trade Commission has announced the start of the stone fruit export season, with LPG Cutri Fruit Global shipping the first batch of peaches and nectarines to Kuala Lumpur. The federal government has connected 9 Australian ports with China and Singapore to promote agricultural exports, extending the International Freight Assistance Mechanism plan until mid-2022. Despite challenges like logistic shortages and price hikes, the volume of peach exports is expected to rise by 15% in the 2021/22 season. However, Australian nectarine exports to China, the largest market, have seen a 35% drop in the 2020/21 season due to pandemic and trade relations, and exporters are expected to face pressure in the upcoming season.