June 8, 2006
Australian beef exports down in May
Australian beef and veal exports during May fell 4 percent on last year's levels, to 86,700 tonnes, according to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Total shipments for the first five months of the year were down 3 percent from the same period last year, to 362,100 tonnes.
Shipments to Japan, which accounts for almost half of May's shipments, fell 6 percent from last year's levels to 36,500 tonnes.
The lower sales were blamed on an earlier than expected rainy season in Japan on top of the lackluster Golden Week holidays.
Exports to Japan for the first five months of 2006 are down 9 percent from the same period last year, to 160,700 tonnes.
In percentage terms, the steepest drop in May occurred in the US market, which saw a drop of 28 percent to 27,700 tonnes.
This was due to higher US cattle supplies as severe drought conditions in many states encouraged producers to sell their cows for slaughter. Other factors, such as higher herd numbers, keener competition from pork and chicken on top of lower disposable incomes for consumers also depressed prices for imported beef.
Exports to the US during the first five months of the year fell 10 percent from 2005 levels, at 120,400 tonnes.
Beef exports to South Korea for May was 12,900 tonnes, 87 percent higher than last year, as Korean as talks for the resumption of US beef remain embroiled in technical disagreements.
Australian Beef Exports for May 2006 (tonnes)
|
May-06 |
Percentage Change on-year |
First 5 months of 2006 |
Percentage Change | |
|
on-year | ||||
|
Total |
86,700 |
-4% |
362,100 |
-3% |
|
|
36,500 |
-6% |
160,700 |
-9% |
|
US |
27,700 |
-28% |
120,400 |
-10% |
|
|
12,900 |
87% |
48,100 |
26% |
|
|
2,600 |
-5% |
10,700 |
3% |
|
|
1,000 |
100% |
3,000 |
9% |
