Beef Exports Watered Down in March
AUSTRALIA - Australian shipments of beef and veal reached 81,521 tonnes swt in March, eight below the previous year according to DAFF figures.
9 April 2010
1 minute read
The transportation and processing of cattle has been held back to date by widespread rainfall and flooding – particularly across northern Australia – and this has contributed to much lower supplies of beef and veal nationally, according to Meat and Livestock Australia.
Exports declined by 48 per cent year-on-year to 16,421 tonnes in the US, a combination of limited supply, the high A$, cheaper domestic CL product and a desire among traders to keep inventories low.
Shipments also fell 17 per cent to Indonesia (3,364 tonnes swt) and 22 per cent to Taiwan (2,295 tonnes swt). However, exports lifted 10 per cent to Korea (11,173 tonnes) with consumer spending continuing to recover, and 28 per cent to Japan (39,283 tonnes), with importers buying strongly ahead of the Golden week holiday.
Cattle supplies are expected to improve in coming months, with the official end of the rainy season in March. Despite this, Australian beef exports are forecast to be six per cent lower in 2010 year-on-year, due to a combination of herd rebuilding and the higher Australian dollar impacting returns according to MLA’s Industry Projections.
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