April 8, 2013

Australian beef exports to Korea rises by 42% in March

Australia's beef and veal shipments to Korea jumped to 11,250 tonnes swt in March, an increase of 42% on-year.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the volume for the first quarter of 2013 totalled 28,406 tonnes swt (up 17% in the corresponding period last year), with a 5% increase in chilled beef exports, totalling 6,967 tonnes swt.

The increase in the March exports was largely registered for frozen beef, reaching 8,723 tonnes swt (up 60% on-year). Chilled beef exports also increased 3% on-year, to 2,527 tonnes swt, with chilled grass-fed beef lifting 5% on-year, to 1,220 tonnes swt.

Assisted by reportedly low stock levels, chuck roll exports during March rose 69% on-year, to 2,932 tonnes swt, with blade as an alternative cut increasing 116%, to 1,291 tonnes swt. Demand for manufacturing beef was also strong during March – more than doubling from 895 tonnes swt in March 2012 to 1,841 tonnes swt in March 2013. However, the monthly volume of short rib declined 24% on-year, to 989 tonnes swt, largely due to increased volumes from the US.

Offal exports to Korea during March were up 3% on-year, to 1,929 tonnes swt. While the volume of cheek meat, one of the popular items shipped to Korea, decreased to 449 tonnes swt (down 9% on-year), exports of intestine and skirt increased, to 449 tonnes swt (up 11% on-year) and 351 tonnes swt (up 6% on-year), respectively, with tail also lifting to 314 tonnes swt (up 17% on-year).