August 29, 2009

South Asia buys more beef in 2008-09

The Southeast Asia/China region has continued to be a strong beef market despite the dampening effect the financial and economic crises had on global red meat demand in 2008-09.

Brazil, US, New Zealand and Australia all registered export increases to the region to the point of posting new record volumes in 2008-09, including a 28-percent growth in shipments of Australian beef to a record 109,654 tonnes swt.

Brazilian beef shipments to the region in 2008-09 rose 10 percent on-year to 105,566 tonnes swt. The growth was largely due to strong demand in China, while high prices following reduced export supply saw the Brazilian beef trade to Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore fall.

US beef exports to the region in 2008-09 jumped 35 percent to 89,608 tonnes also due to strong demand from China. Shipments to Taiwan weakened for the first time since 2005-06 by two percent, as high prices impacted orders.

New Zealand beef trade to the region increased slightly on-year to reach a record high of 63,088 tonnes swt. Volumes increased for nearly all markets, except for Indonesia and the Philippines where price sensitivity continued to restrain purchases.

In the fiscal year to February, India exported 20-percent more carabeef to Southeast Asia/China region to 137,541 tonnes swt, the highest volume on record for this period. Increased volumes shipped to China and Vietnam also more than offset declines to Malaysia and the Philippines.