March 13, 2014

Australia's live cattle exports to Vietnam continue to rise

Live cattle exports to Vietnam would decline this year as predicted by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) is proving to be way off the mark.

In its annual projections released in January, MLA said the Vietnam market would 'taper off' in 2014 because of increased demand from Indonesia.

It predicted Vietnam would import 40,000 head in 2014, down from last year's record of around 68,000 head.

Bernie Brosnan, from Wellard Rural Exports, says the 40,000 mark will probably be reached by the end of this month.

He says the growth of the Vietnam market has been phenomenal and has wide-ranging benefits for Australia's cattle industry.

Vietnam is now easily the second biggest market for northern Australia's live cattle trade and is paying good money for cattle which don't traditionally suit the Indonesian market.

Heavy steers (350-650 kilogrammes) exported to Vietnam from Townsville recently fetched up to US$1.80 a kilogramme. Heavy heifers (350 kilogrammes+) have been getting US$1.55/kilogramme and heavy bulls (350-650 kilogrammes) a very decent US$1.70/kilogramme.