April 19, 2013
ANZCO anticipates rapid growth in beef trade to China
On the heels of an already surging sheep meat trade, the head of ANZCO Foods is anticipating a rapid growth in beef exports to China.
ANZCO Foods executive chairman Graeme Harrison was part of Prime Minister John Key's trade mission to China.
Graeme said opportunities for beef have been opening up for New Zealand since Chinese officials started issuing volume permits for beef imports last year.
He said beef's value of US$9 million was exported to China in 2010, while this year the figure will be US$90 million, and, he estimates, this will grow to US$250 million by 2015.
Graeme said it's possible to see the potential for a US$500 million to US$1 billion trade in beef. He said sheep meat exports will probably reach US$450 million this year and if casings, wool and lamb pelts are included, the New Zealand sheep farming sector will earn US$1 billion from China.
