The Federal Government has released the Water Industry Capability Report, providing extensive insight into the state of the country’s water industry.

 

The survey report, published by ACA Research, found the following key results:

  • respondents reported that approximately 91% (or $3.8b) of their water business sales are achieved in the domestic market;
  • there is significant potential to win more business in export markets;
  • there is considerable overseas interest in Australia’s success in integrated water management in the face of serious natural challenges;
  • nearly 60% of exporting respondents sell into the ASEAN countries, with New Zealand being the next most successful market.  25% sell into China and the Middle East while only 19% of the same respondents sell into North America.

 

The survey highlighted that the industry is ‘heavily weighted’ to small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by number of organisations, with 67 per cent of respondents employing fewer than 20 staff.

 

57 per cent of those that provided turnover figures, reported that their water business turnover in 2009/10 was less than $5 million. At the other end of the scale, 10 per cent reported that their water business turnover exceeded $25 million.

 

The full report can be found here