August 24, 2007

Australia's Jan-July beef imports to South Asia up by 58 percent

Australian beef exports to South-East Asia/Chinas from January to July increased by 58 percent compared with the same period in 2006, to 40,281 tonnes slaughterweight (swt), driven by a 199 percent growth in shipments of manufacturing beef to 10,659 tonnes swt.

Rising demand for manufacturing beef in Indonesia over the period has lifted exports to the market by 309 percent on 2006, to 6,945 tonnes swt - 54 percent of total manufacturing beef trade with the region. Shipments to Taiwan also hiked by 26 percent (to 1,022 tonnes swt). Imports to Singapore were also up to 628 tonnes swt from 595 tonnes and a 20 percent increase was also noted for Philippine imports to 862 tonnes swt. Exports to China re-emerged from four tonnes swt during January to July 2006 to 759 tonnes swt in 2007.

Shin shank has shifted from the most exported cut to South-East Asia/Chinas during January to July 2006 to the second major cut exported in 2007, with total shipments easing 4 percent on 2006, to 8,479 tonnes swt. Contributing to the fall was a 6 percent decrease in shipments to Taiwan (to 8,243 tonnes swt), where low priced frozen US shin shank impacted demand for Australian products.

Consignments of thick flank/knuckle to South-East Asia/Chinas climbed 173 percent over January to July, to 3,383 tonnes swt. Weak Russian demand has resulted in increased availability of product for Taiwan and Indonesia, with exports rising 385 percent and 94 percent, respectively, to 1,687 tonnes swt and 1,417 tonnes swt.