Leading agricultural companies on the ASX in Australia 2024, by market cap
As of January 2024, Costa Group was the leading agricultural product company on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), with a market cap of almost 1.5 billion Australian dollars. Meanwhile, Elders Limited took second place with a market capitalization of almost 1.2 billion Australian dollars.
Leading companies in the Australian agricultural product sector
Founded in 1839 in South Australia, Elders Limited, now among Australia’s most trusted agribusinesses, mainly operates in Branch Network, Wholesale Products, and Feed and Processing Services segments. Elders Ltd supports primary producers in Australia and New Zealand throughout the production cycle by offering an array of agricultural products and financial services, including farm supplies, technical services, insurance, real estate, as well as agency services involving wool, grain, and livestock.
Costa Group is another dominant domestic player leading the agricultural product sector in Australia. Originating back to 1888, Costa Group has become Australia’s largest horticultural company in cultivating, distributing, and marketing fresh fruits and vegetables. Its primary product categories include avocados, bananas, berries, citrus, table grapes, mushrooms, and tomatoes. Costa is also known for its international berry operations and its logistic, wholesale, and marketing services across Australia.
Major agricultural exporter
Despite its relatively small contribution to the country’s total GDP, agriculture remains a crucial economic sector in Australia, with agricultural commodities trade making up a notable share of Australia’s total exports value each year. While the value of agricultural exports from Australia declined in 2021 because of the coronavirus outbreak, the industry was expected to recover and grow substantially in 2022 and 2023. Australia’s agriculture industry has remained resilient, as the Australian Government has continued investing in agricultural development and food security.