April 13, 2010

New Zealand's beef exports down in March

New Zealand's exports of beef and veal fell 4% on-year in March to 39,729 tonnes due to declining domestic supply, according to New Zealand Meat Board.

Demand for NZ product has been increasingly buoyant this year as a result of Australia's rainfall-induced production shortages. However, increased shipments have been hampered by tight supplies of cattle domestically - forcing production back 17% on-year in February to 53,324 tonnes. 

Lower production in NZ has been due to low beef-breeding cow numbers as well as herd rebuilding on the back of an improved season. However, the largest contributor has been a reduction in the number of cull cows after last year's high, with cow slaughter back 42% in February to 43,278 head, according to Meat and Wool New Zealand.

For the 2009-10 season, cattle slaughter is expected to fall 6.2% to 2.19 million head, and production to drop 4% to 566,657 tonnes.

March exports of NZ beef and veal fell 8% to the US (78,240 tonnes), 12% to Taiwan (1,964 tonnes) and 44% to Canada (2,271 tonnes). However, shipments increased 15% to Korea (3,620 tonnes) and 41% to Japan.