February 18, 2004

Review of Australian January Beef Exports

Australia's overall beef exports fell 11% in January despite beef exports to Japan reaching a record high, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) said.

The record Australian beef shipments to Japan for January, up 40% on last year to 23,700 tonnes sw, were largely due to strong demand for imported beef, given the shortage of supply following the ban on US beef. 

Beef exports to the US in January, at 13,770 tonnes, were 25% below year ago levels, as exporters diverted product to other markets, particularly Japan.  Chilled beef exports to the US largely ceased as more competitively priced domestic beef became available following the banning of US beef by most export markets.

Australian beef exports to Korea fell 14% for January, to 3,580 tonnes, the seventh consecutive monthly year-on-year decline.  Similar to Korea, exports also declined to Canada, Mexico and the Philippines, while exports to Taiwan jumped 17% on last year, to 1,754 tonnes sw.