March 13, 2008

Australia's live cattle exports expand by 28 percent on-year

Australian live cattle exports jumpstarted the year with a 28-percent rise, compared to January of last year.

Exports for the month totalled 62,458 head, with volumes boosted by a solid demand from Indonesia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported.

After importing a record number of cattle in 2007, at 520,000 head, Indonesia continued its rigorous purchase into 2008.

In January alone, Indonesia-bound cattle exports reached 41,154 head, the highest on record and 34 percent above January 2007, which was at 30,611 head.

Australia's cattle exports for the month were valued at AUD24 million (US$22 million) FOB.

Cattle shipments to other offshore markets throughout January were varied, with increased volumes to Israel at 12,454 head, Japan at 1,833 head and Saudi Arabia at 2,000 head.

No shipments have been recorded in January to Malaysia or the Philippines, which have previously been a robust market for Australian cattle in the past years.