May 18, 2009
Australian live cattle exports hit record in March
After a slow start to 2009, Australian live cattle exports rebounded in March to reach a record high of 83,735 head, up 13 percent on-year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Cattle exported to Indonesia in March increased six percent on-year to 65,221 head, the highest monthly volume since September 2008. Contributing to the growth in March was the lower first two months' shipments that had an added total of 71,966 head, down 10 percent on-year.
Extensive flooding across northern Australia had disrupted cattle movements in the first two months. As a result, total cattle exports to Indonesia fell three percent in the first quarter to 137,187 head.
While Indonesia accounted for 78 percent of Australia's live cattle shipments, 12,274 head were sent to the Middle East, 2,495 head to Malaysia, 1,890 head to Japan, and 1,848 head to China.
