May 10, 2005

Increase in Australian live cattle exports

Australian live cattle exports for the first quarter increased by 17 percent from the same period last year, to 134,000 head or A$103 million.

Indonesia remains the top destination for Australian cattle, receiving 78,000 head during the first three months of the year, up 31 percent from last year. Other major destinations for that period include China and Israel, receiving 14,700 head and 14,200 head, respectively. Shipments to Israel have increased dramatically during 2005, up from just 1,440 head last year. Shipments of 7,790 head went to Japan, 6,295 head to Jordan and 5,890 to Malaysia.

The total value of Australia's cattle exports for the three months was up 24 percent, with those to Indonesia increasing in value by 45 percent, to A$45.6 million. A large number of high-value dairy cattle shipments to China caused the total value of shipments there to be worth A$27.2 million.