China has lifted its ban on two of Australia's largest grain exporters.
Despite the Asian superpower removing its tariff on Australian barley, CBH Grain and Louis Dreyfus Company Grains Australia (formerly Emerald Grain) remained on the Chinese government list of banned exporters.
But just five days later, the ban was overturned following a written request from the Albanese government.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the announcement gave him great pleasure and was another positive step towards the stabilisation of the nation's relationship with China.
"There are good days and bad days in Australian agriculture, and today is a good day," Senator Watt said.
"The reinstatement of these two exporters is the result of ongoing technical discussions between our two countries."
The two companies were officially banned by the Chinese customs department in late 2020 for what were alleged breaches of quarantine requirements, believed to be excessive levels of brome grass seed.
The announcement was welcomed by both companies, who will lose almost no momentum as they rejoin the 126 other Australian exporters registered to supply barley to China.
David Johnson, Louis Dreyfus Australia Grains chief executive, confirmed the government had told him the welcome news.
A CBH spokesperson said the government had also been in touch with the business.
"CBH has been advised by the Australian government that China has lifted its suspension on CBH Grain for barley imports," they said.
"We welcome this positive news and look forward to working with our customers to return to exporting Western Australian barley to China, a longstanding market."
They said they look to service the Chinese market while retaining new found markets created while exports to China were not possible.
"CBH Grain is excited to resume trading in this important barley market with a key trading partner, while continuing to service our customers in south east Asia, the Middle East, Mexico and South America.
"Western Australian grain growers will now benefit from greater access to international markets to sell their world quality barley."
The focus for Chinese market in the short-term is expected to be for malt barley, which was traditionally Australia's major barley export to China before feed demand started growing in the years immediately preceding the 2020 tariffs.
With ample feed grain supplies expected in competing nations such as the US it is expected the Chinese will be keener on malt barley, where they have historically preferred Australian product.
The lifting of the ban for CBH, with its footprint in WA, is particularly significant, as WA has traditionally provided a large chunk of barley exports to China.