Australia's beef exports up 7.7 percent on-year in June

Australia's beef exports were up 7.7 percent in June compared to the same month last year, according to the country's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

 

Compared to the previous month, Australia's beef and veal exports during June fell 12.9 percent

 

Exports totaled to 81,861 tonnes. Frozen exports accounted for three-quarters of the volume, totaling 60,761 tonnes. The rest consists of fresh and chilled products.

 

Exports to Japan was up 2.8 percent on-year to 31,462 tonnes but down 9.8 percent compared to May 2008.

 

During the first half of 2008, Australia's beef exports to Japan totaled 180,383 tonnes, a 6.5-percent drop compared to a year ago.

 

Japan was Australia's main beef export market, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the total.

 

Beef exports to the US totaled 16,166 tonnes, a 36-percent drop from last year.  Total year-to-date beef exports to the US also fell nearly 36 percent to 99,441 tonnes.

 

Exports to South Korea for the first half of the year was also down 4.2 percent from last year to 64,126 tonnes.

 

Exports to Russia was up sharply however, totaling 41,371 tonnes compared to just 677 tonnes a year ago.

 

Overall, Australia's beef and veal exports during the first half of 2008 totaled 454,160 tonnes, 2.4 percent lower than the same period a year ago.