Beef Exports To South Asia Pull Back
AUSTRALIA - Australian beef exports to South East Asia and Greater China during April fell by 12 per cent compared to March, to 8,952 tonnes swt, just one per cent below the volume sent April 2010.
12 May 2011
1 minute read
The subdued exports in April 2010 were affected by the extremely wet weather conditions that restricted cow slaughter and reduced exports, according to analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.
Meanwhile, shipments to the region this year were affected by the record high Australian dollar and government restriction on beef import permits into Indonesia.
The year-on-year fall was influenced by the reduction in shipments to the two biggest markets in the region.
Exports to Indonesia during April fell 73 per cent to 769 tonnes, the lowest monthly volume since August 2006.
While demand remained strong, the uncertainty surrounding import permits early this year saw shipments to this market fall.
Beef exports to Taiwan also decreased seven per cent during the same period, to 2,519 tonnes swt.
Although the Taiwanese government restriction on US beef containing drugs that promotes lean meat remained, Australia's price competitiveness was heavily affected by the surging Australian dollar, as opposed to the weak US dollar, MLA said.
In contrast, shipments to other markets in the region, including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam experienced double digit growth during April.
TheCattleSite News Desk
