A recent piece of research by CommSec has put into perspective just how persuasive the thematic of China-led growth could be for Australia's future prosperity.
In a pair of charts under the heading of 'China: Consumers to lead', CommSec has charted the huge rise in what it terms the "dining boom". One chart shows how food exports to China have risen from under $1 billion to over $5 billion in the past decade.
Another chart shows the astronomical rise in tourists from China and Hong Kong to Australia over the past seven years, where numbers have risen from around 500,000 to nearly 1.4 million per annum.
The positive trends which can be seen from these two charts certainly paint an encouraging picture as to how the Australian tourism, food, and beverage sectors could be long-term beneficiaries of the China growth thematic.
Three companies that all appear well placed to benefit from this theme, in my opinion, are Australian Agricultural Company Ltd (ASX: AAC), Star Entertainment Group Ltd (ASX: SGR) and Treasury Wine Estates Ltd (ASX: TWE).
AAco is Australia's leading producer of beef and recently improved its business model with the building of a processing facility in Darwin. This facility provides for an improved vertically integrated offering and a strategically positioned asset close to Asia.
Star Group operates casino venues in both Sydney and Brisbane. While its Sydney operations will soon have to compete with a Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX:CWN) owned casino, Star remains well positioned in both markets to capture a significant share of the Asian tourist dollar.
Treasury Wine Estates is Australia's largest wine brand owner which is not only enjoying increased demand for its exports into Asia, but it also stands to capture the inbound tourist dollar via its extensive cellar door operations throughout Australia's wine regions.