THE Chinese economy looks to be stirring again as a wave of products from the industrial giant strutted their stuff at this year’s Ag Show event staged at the Toowoomba Showground complex.
Against a dry back-drop, and despite equally parched spring conditions being forecast, show-goers would have been hard put to miss the swag of products hailing from Asia’s largest country.
Be they companies of little or large standing, all seem to have Australia in their sights.
While early talk has been of the quality of the products on offer from China, this latest wave of technology is noteworthy, principally because of its improved level of finishing.
A good example came from Len Patti Mitsubishi with dealer principal Darryl Patti extolling the virtues of its three-strong Great Wall Motors utes, commenting that he too was "a little bit sceptical" about the quality of the build when he first set eyes on the product a month or so ago.
"But there are some very exciting things happening with Great Wall ute of China and I just can't believe the reaction to them," he said.
"Once you see them, and go over them, it's obvious they are well made and safe too, looking at the amount of metal used," Mr Patti added.
Interestingly the two smaller units use a Toyota power plant while Mitsubishi engines are used on the larger models. On offer too, is a three year 100,000km warranty and the smaller model can be driven away for less that $20,000, including good leather trim.
Look out for Great Wall SUVs, also a small car, in the not too distant future.
Meanwhile, a delegation from the Longmen Warrior tractor brand, handled in this country by Strohfeld Agricultural Imports, also made it to the show grounds yesterday.
The idea is to get a better understanding of what Australian customers are looking for in its budget-orientated tractors, according to company spokesman Miles Strofeld.
Factor in the East Wind franchise, also add in the impact being made by Tractors North's smart-looking Ag Chief range to begin to appreciate the growing presence of Chinese product being landed in Australia.
And it's selling fast, according to the latter company's manager, Adam Mann who said: "We just landed a container and it's practically all sold."
But in something of a coup for Ag Show, John Deere took the wraps of a mighty serious-looking tracked tractor, namely its 345hp 8345RT unit equipped with a new suspension system, cab and more powerful engine.
Apart from drawing plaudits for making its Australan debut within a week of being launched in the United States, the company’s new Australia/New Zealand managing director, Michael Park, was on hand to talk up its sales prospects.
With respect to the all-pervading global financial crisis he said: "Things appear to be bottoming out, particularly in the US.
"Globally it is really hard to tell but it looks to me that Australia has not experienced its impact to the same degree of magnitude," Mr Park said.
On Australia's prospects he conceded farm prospects, as always, hinge on rain.
"Folks are telling me that in certain areas of Australia they are very happy and pleased with the outlook and in this area (southern Queensland) we are cautiously optimistic," Mr Park said.
"But we do need more rain."
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