February 4, 2004

 

 

Australian Beef Output In December Down 1.1%

 

Beef production in Australia, a major global exporter, in December fell 1.1%% from November to a seasonally adjusted 171,899 metric tons, the government's Bureau of Statistics reported Wednesday.

 

But December output was up a little from the 170,973 tons produced in December 2002.

 

Australia exports about two-thirds of its beef production, mostly to the U.S. and Japan, with the volume of exports closely tied to output levels.

 

The bureau reported the total number of cattle slaughtered, excluding calves, in December fell to 667,500 beasts from 678,700 in November but was up from 664,700 in December 2002.

 

The bureau said a trend estimate for cattle slaughterings rose in December for the fifth month in a row, driven in part by ongoing dry conditions in some areas.

 

"However, the cattle industry has also experienced strong demand in recent months from restockers due to good rainfall in key areas," it said in a statement.

 

A trend estimate of data further smoothes seasonally adjusted figures.

 

               AUSTRALIAN MEAT PRODUCTION

  (seasonally adjusted data, metric tons, carcass weight)

 

                    Dec. 2003     Nov. 2003        Dec. 2002

 

 Beef              171,899        173,811          170,973

 Veal                  3,588           3,976             3,502

 Mutton             18,770         18,393            24,782

 Lamb               29,528         29,444            27,552

 Pigmeat           32,437         33,976            32,661

 

 (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics)