US Pips Japan to Number One Grassfed Australian Beef Buyer
AUSTRALIA – Australian chilled grassfed beef and veal exports reached record volumes for the 2013/14 year as US buying outstripped Japanese demand.
16 July 2014
1 minute read
Strong global buying assisted higher supplies in achieving sales of 148,449 tonnes shipped weight, with the US accounting for almost a third at 44,340 tonnes.
This left the US above Japan as Australia’s biggest beef customer, up 33 per cent year on year and 74 per cent on the five year average, market analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia have reported.
Japanese buying slipped nine per cent year on year to the lowest volume since 1995.
Shipments to Korea fell slightly, while volumes to the Middle East lifted 72 per cent.
Europe bought 7,301 tonnes swt, in line with quota.
Indonesian volumes doubled, breaking the previous financial year record.
MLA said expanding consumer preference for naturally produced foods has driven US growth.
And added: “While the surge in chilled grassfed exports over the past financial year were attributed somewhat to the higher supplies, the steady growth to markets like the US is an encouraging indication of ongoing long-term demand.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
