March 15, 2007

New Zealand beef exports up 7 percent in February
 

New Zealand (NZ) beef and veal exports in February increased 7 percent on February 2006 levels, to 35,495 tonnes slaughterweight (swt), data from the New Zealand Meat Board show.

The rise in exports for the month can be credited to increased shipments to Korea and Taiwan, while exports to the US, Canada and Japan declined.

Shipments to both Taiwan and Korea increased during February, with exports to Korea jumping 36 percent, to 5,393 tonnes swt, while volumes to Taiwan surged 15 percent, to 2,008 tonnes. Despite a 7 percent increase in beef exports to Japan from the previous month, NZ exports were back 14% on February 2006 levels, to 3,014 tonnes swt.

Reduced demand for manufacturing beef in the US contributed to shipments to the US falling back 6 percent on February 2006 levels, to 16,253 tonnes swt. Despite the decline during February, Meat & Wool New Zealand predicts demand from the US will become stronger in the coming months, as domestic supplies tighten. Similarly, exports to Canada for the month dropped 36 percent on 2006 levels, to 1,682 tonnes swt, while exports to Mexico decreased 77 percent, to 132 tonnes swt.