October 23, 2009

New Zealand's beef and veal exports rose three percent in 2008-09, spurred by a low exchange rate that averaged 20-percent less than the previous year at 61US¢, a higher cow kill and a shift in global demand towards cheaper beef.

Manufacturing beef exports to North America accounted for 55 percent of total New Zealand shipments for the year. Manufacturing product volumes rose two percent to 177,218 tonnes, while chilled beef sales fell 10 percent to 22,820 tonnes.

New Zealand beef exports to Canada rose 47 percent to 31,404 tonnes. Manufacturing shipments rose 63 percent to 19,414 tonnes, while volumes to the US were flat at 172,266 tonnes.

Exports to Japan and South Korea fell 10 percent and 23 percent, respectively, to 28,817 tonnes and 30,080 tonnes, mainly due to sluggish demand and the return of US beef.

Australian beef exports showed similar trends over the same period, but fared slightly better, with a 32-percent rise in shipments to the US at 289,562 tonnes and a 16-percent increase to Canada at 11,766 tonnes.

However, Australia's beef exports to Japan and South Korea fell four percent and 14 percent, respectively, to 357,854 tonnes and 118,619 tonnes.