Multibillion-dollar offers from China, Singapore and Thailand for CSR's Sucrogen and Centennial Coal reflects a rise in Asian interest for a broad range of Australian assets.

The move into diverse commodities indicates a change in the region's demographics with the emergence of an aspirational middle class.

According to managing partner at advisory firm O'Sullivan Partners, Tony O'Sullivan, there had been surging Asian appetite in Australian agricultural and infrastructure assets. In the uncertain environment, Australian businesses offered less gambles than other areas, owing to steady regulatory and economic environments."You've got the combination of a stable environment coupled with still reasonable economic growth," he said.

When Bright Food first thought of taking over Sucrogen, it had considered significant rise in China's sugar demand as the country's population continued to expand and become richer.

However after a slump in sugar prices, it reduced its initial indicative bid of $1.75 billion, and was eventually beaten by Wilmar International, a Singaporean company hoping to use the takeover to establish its regional sugar operations.

This was not the first time a lowered Chinese bid ended in an Asian competitor winning the deal.

Late 2009, Sinochem cut its initial $2.8 million offer for Nufarm, which led Japanese company Sumitomo to buy a 20 per cent stake in the chemical manufacturer.

Other fresh signs of Asian appetite in a broad range of Australian assets include Japanese brewer Kirin's acquisition of Lion Nathan and Chinalco proposing to Rio Tinto.

Thai company Banpu's friendly takeover offer for Centennial Coal yesterday also emphasizes the interest in the booming coal industry of several Asian nations other than the usual Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.