NZ Beef Exports Increase
NEW ZEALAND - Increases in cows culled and a lower exchange rate have boosted NZ beef exports to the US and Canada.
22 October 2009
2 minute read
For the 2008-09 fiscal year (October-September), New Zealand (NZ) beef and veal exports rose three per cent, spurred by a lower exchange rate – which averaged 20 per cent less than the previous year at 61US¢ – and a higher cow kill, which complemented a general shift in global demand towards cheaper beef, according to analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.
This trend was particularly evident in north America – manufacturing beef to this region accounted for 55 per cent of total NZ beef exports for the year. Manufacturing product volumes rose two per cent to 177,218 tonnes, while chilled beef sales fell 10 per cent to 22,820 over the period.
NZ exports for the year rose 47 per cent to Canada (31,404 tonnes) – with manufacturing shipments up 63 per cent to 19,414 tonnes. Volumes to the US were flat at 172,266 tonnes (a four per cent lift in manufacturing sales to 128,400 tonnes was outweighed by a 10 per cent fall in chilled volumes to 22,820 tonnes).
Exports to Japan (28,817 tonnes) and Korea (30,080 tonnes) fell 10 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively, mainly due to sluggish demand and the return of US product.
Australian beef exports showed similar trends over the same period, but fared slightly better, with a 32 per cent rise in shipments to the US (289,562 tonnes) and a 16 per cent increase to Canada (11,766 tonnes). Australian exports fell four per cent to Japan (357,854 tonnes) and 14 per cent to Korea (118,619 tonnes).
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