Australian beef exports to Indonesia down in April

Australian exported 2,808 tonnes of beef to Indonesia during April this year, a 17% plunge from the previous month, although shipment remained 17% above those in April 2009.

Beef shipments to the market during the first four months of 2010 decreased 14% compared with the same period in 2009, to 12,163 tonnes swt, due entirely to a fall in frozen volumes. In contrast, the chilled beef trade to the market remained firm, up 1% to 1,246 tonnes swt.

While reduced beef production following limited cattle supply restricted beef exports from Australia during the four months to April, beef demand in Indonesia remained resilient. Indonesia has sourced more beef from New Zealand, with exports from New Zealand during January to March jumping 45% on-year to 9,688 tonnes swt, despite the appreciation of the NZ dollar against the Indonesian rupiah.

Australian beef offal shipments to Indonesia during January to April soared 39% compared with the same period in 2009, to 4,940 tonnes swt. New Zealand also exported 44% more beef offal to the market during the March quarter, to 4,034 tonnes swt.