August 5, 2008

Australian second-quarter red meat sales to the Middle East grew to 22,838 tonnes, up 22 percent from 16,401 tonnes during the same period in 2007, according to the latest report issued by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA).

The report said there were growth across the full range of Australian red meat products.

Australian beef and veal sales recorded a staggering increase of 234 percent during the second quarter, as sales jumped from 793 tonnes in the second quarter of 2007 to 2,646 tonnes. Compared to the first quarter of 2008, beef and veal sales also increased by 11.6 percent to 275 tonnes.

In the first half of 2008, beef and veal products outperformed other meat categories as they recorded a 209-percent increase from 1,626 tonnes to 5,018 tonnes.

Overall sales of Australian red meat products totalled 47,266 tonnes in the first half of the year, up 22.7 percent on-year.

Ian Ross, MLA Regional Manager, said the increase in sales of Australian red meat reflects consumer confidence in Australia's food production system and that Australian red meat products have managed to keep reasonably stable prices in Middle East markets amid global food inflation and rising costs.