March 9, 2009

Australia's beef shipments have increased in the first two months of 2009 to 7,644 tonnes from 3,033 tonnes in the year-ago period, according to figures issued by the Department of Agriculture.

The figures showed that Indonesia is now Australia's fourth-largest export market, and that beef shipments to the Asian nation tripled on-year in February to 4,517 tonnes.

Demand for Australian beef began rising in 2008 as competition from India and South America declined largely due to tighter trade restrictions, according to Greg Brown, president of producer lobby Cattle Council of Australia.

Brown said Indonesia's GDP is expected to grow 4.5 percent this year despite the world economic crisis, and combined with an expanding population, strong consumer spending and a weaker Australian dollar, Australia's beef exports to Indonesia will be further boosted.

Total Australian beef exports in February rose 20 percent on-year to 79,781 tonnes, bringing shipments in the first two months of 2009 to 129,808 tonnes, up 18 percent.

Underpinning the record beef shipments for February were sharp increases to the US, Southeast Asia, mainly Indonesia, and Taiwan, while volumes to Japan for the month were similar to last year, said Meat & Livestock Australia Ltd. on Friday (Mar 6).

February exports to the US increased 71 percent to 27,657 tonnes; up 61 percent to 3,355 tonnes to Taiwan; fell 0.4 percent to 29,993 tonnes to Japan; and down 32 percent to 8,306 tonnes to South Korea.