June 8, 2007

Australia posts gains in its May beef exports

Beef exports by Australia in May registered an increase of 3 percent from the same period last year, to 89,112 tonnes slaughterweight, data from Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry show.

Shipments from January to May this year also increased by 8 percent from last year, to 389,279 tonnes swt, despite the strengthening of the A$ at the start of the year. Higher beef exports in May were mainly a result of rising beef supplies during April, following increased cattle turn-off due to ongoing drought conditions.

Shipments to the US in May strengthened 20 percent from April and 18 percent on May 2006, to 32,600 tonnes swt. Its US exports for this year's first five months totalled 128,591 tonnes swt, up 7 percent on 2006, as strong US demand for chilled shipments to the market was up 50 percent, to 16,326 tonnes swt.

Its May beef exports to South Korea also increased 18 percent on the previous month, to 8,841 tonnes swt, as reduced stocks contributed to growing demand. Shipments however remained 32 percent lower than the same time in 2006, with volumes sent to Korean market during the five months to May up 21 percent to 58,277 tonnes swt. Exports to Japan eased 1 percent during May compared with last year, to 36,183 tonnes swt. Its total Japanese exports to date reached 162,330 tonnes swt, which was only 1 percent below last year.

Between January and May 2007, Australia also increased beef exports to South-East Asia and to China was up by 56 percent to 7,153 tonnes swt due to growing demand from the manufacturing and foodservice sectors. Volumes sent to Indonesia during May jumped 124 percent, to 2,273 tonnes swt, while exports to Taiwan recorded a 32 percent increase, at 3,414 tonnes swt.