August 4, 2006

Australian beef exports down slightly for July
 

Australian beef and veal exports during July were down less than 1 percent on July 2005 levels, at 75,773 tonnes, according to statistics released by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The first seven months of the year saw beef and veal shipments slipping 3 percent on the same period last year, to 521,085 tonnes.

Beef exports for the month were lower for all major markets, except South Korea.

Exports to the US were down 15 percent, mainly due to tight cow supplies in Australia and abundant supplies in the US

Shipments to Japan fell 10 percent below last year's levels, as the extended wet season dampened consumption and uncertainty towards US negotiations continued to impact buying.

Strong demand from other markets also diverted supplies away from Japan and the US markets. 

Beef exports to Korea surged 61 percent to 12,515 tonnes, as uncertainty regarding the date of re-entry of US beef into the South Korean market increased demand for Australian beef. Importers were hoping to secure adequate stocks for the upcoming Thanksgiving, a traditional peak beef consumption period.

Also noteworthy was a twenty-fold increase in beef exports to Russia, totalling 1,582 tonnes, as the EU and South America were unable to fill the growing Russian demand.