China: The catalyst in Russia-Aussie trade ties
December 5, 2013, 9:52 am

Should Australia collaborate economically more closely with Russia in Asia, and in particular China, in order to maximise Australia’s value in the region, rather than risk losing its competitiveness.

Russia and China are not only collaborating to set the agenda on the global political stage, but they are also increasing their bilateral trade, most recently with an 85 billion dollar oil deal. Russia has plans to move into the lucrative Asian gas market, by diverting current supplies away from Europe and developing new supplies aimed at China, and Asia generally. The upside for Australian companies increasing their bilateral trade with Russia could well translate into not only protecting their share of the Asian market, but also increasing it through collaboration.

Australia’s new Prime Minister Tony Abbott has set a deadline of 12 months to put in place a crucial FTA with China [Getty Images]

Australia and Russia will increasingly compete for Asian market share for the sale of resources, in particular LNG. Rather than competition, collaboration between Australia and Russia could in fact see strong upside for those companies and investment funds when they consider the risks and rewards of working with, and in Russia, or enticing Russian investment into Australia.

The Russian government has made no secret of their desire to develop the Eastern region of Russia, which is rich in resources, from gold, copper, coal, oil and gas to name a few. These so far largely undeveloped deposits are destined for the Asian markets. Not withstanding the incredibly cold winter conditions, lack of any infrastructure and questions over power sources needed to develop some of these resource deposits, the opportunity is large. The Government of Russia is offering tax breaks and incentives to companies who go and develop these Greenfield sites.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping by visiting Moscow on his first foreign trip as president has secured more oil to fuel China’s growing economy [Getty Images]

There is still one sticking point for Russia, and Australia; how to price their LNG into the Asian markets. Given Australia has longer standing and deeper relationships with Asian buyers of LNG than Russia, Australia can compete on price, by innovating to create a price benchmark for Asian gas, which would also be used for Russian gas deliveries. This can be done in collaboration with Russia and Gazprom rather than in competition with them. Russia still has not found any solution for pricing gas into China, and some innovative methodology and an open pricing system could help solve this issue.

Australian financial markets are considered more robust, better regulated and transparent than Russia’s. It would be more efficient therefore to attract investment into Russia’s gas export markets via an Australia lead pricing hub,

Russian and Australian companies are already doing business together. Innovating even. Queensland based Linc Energy and Roman Abramovich, a Russian Oligarch who among other things owns Chelsea Football club and is the past Governor of Chukotka, in far eastern Russia, have recently agreed to collaborate. Linc will supply its underground coal gasification technology to far Eastern Russia, where it is hoped that the application of this technology will produce usable gas from stranded coal reserves in Chukotka. In return, Abramovich has invested in Linc Energy, with a reported 5 per cent stake. ASX listed Tigers Realm Coal, whose sole asset currently, is a metallurgical coal deposit in Chukotka, is another example. Investors are able to invest into Russia almost via the safe proxy of the Australian market, for coal, which will be destined for the Asian markets.

The resource industry is globalised, and it is no surprise that complex service provision and technology is attractive to Russia from Australia. The potential for collaboration across agriculture, financial markets and direct investment of Australia into Russia and Russia into Australia, remains largely untapped. BHP Billiton has been in talks, again with Abramovich  and Chukotka, with regards to a JV in Copper and Gold extraction. Rio Tinto also has ties with Russia, assessing opportunities in diamonds and other resources, again in the Far East. Another big Australian name, Macquarie Bank has an infrastructure fund in Russia, an area in which Russia needs huge investment. Other Australian names operate in Russia, like Orica, which provides mining services, yet so far we do not have any big Russian names investing into the Australian market. It is only a matter of time until they do.

Finally, Australia will, in December this year, take over the G20 Presidency from Russia. While a political event rather than a business one, the opportunity to further strengthen ties between Australia and Russia remains. Despite Australia’s long and strong ties with the USA, there is no reason for Australian companies not to collaborate more closely with Russia. After all, the USA’s Exxon and Russia’s Rosneft is to spend some $15 billion developing LNG together to supply the Asia Pacific markets. Business transcends politics, despite the headlines.

Geopolitics aside, Australia and Russia have a vested interest in strengthening economic ties, and that interest is China and Asian trade.