April 13, 2006

New Zealand beef exports falls
 

New Zealand beef exports during March was down 11 percent on-year and totalled 40,600 tonnes. Shipments for the first three months of 2006 are down 17 percent, to 105,200 tonnes.

Reduced cattle slaughter, at 10 percent below last year's levels, lowered production and contributed to the overall fall in beef exports during March.

Beef shipments to the US for the month were up 6 percent on-year, to 21,100 tonnes. However, shipments for the first three months of the year were down 8 percent to 54,200 tonnes.

Exports to Japan, its second largest market, were dismal. Exports fell by 25 percent in March while shipments for the first three months of 2006 are down 11 percent to 10,900 tonnes.   

The South Korean market did not fare too well also, as uncertainty remains around the resumption of US beef imports. New Zealand beef exports for the month fell 31 percent on-year to 3,800 tonnes. Exports to South Korea during the first quarter of 2006 were 37 percent below 2005 levels, at 11,200 tonnes.