October 26, 2007

 

New Zealand beef exports to Asia rises 15 percent

 

 

New Zealand (NZ) beef exports to South-East Asia and the China's increased 15 percent during the nine months to September, at 43,050 tonnes swt, compared with the same period in 2006.

 

However, this level of growth was dwarfed by the 49-percent increase in US beef shipments to the same area the first eight months of the year.

 

The higher demand was attributed to South-East Asia's manufacturing and foodservice outlets, according to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).

 

Shipments to Indonesia lifted 37 percent, to 18,849 tonnes swt - the highest in a decade while shipments to Singapore reached a 5-year high of 2,094 tonnes swt, up 48 percent on 2006.

 

Volumes sent to the Philippines and Hong Kong climbed 43 percent and 4 percent on January to September last year, respectively, to 1,857 tonnes swt and 2,091 tonnes swt.

 

However, exports to Taiwan, at 17,547 tonnes swt, was clearly affected by the return of US beef. The volume was down 4 percent from 2006 and 32 percent below 2004 levels.

 

However, the strong performance was overshadowed by the 49 percent increase in US beef exports to the same region during the January to August period.

 

Although still below New Zealand's exports, US shipments have already reached 25,760 tonnes swt in the short time since countries in the region lifted the ban on US beef.

 

US shipments are now 22 percent above volumes sent before the mad cow disease ban in 2003.

 

US chilled beef sent to Taiwan and Hong Kong surged 74 percent and 58 percent, respectively, to 5,975 tonnes swt and 930 tonnes swt while exports to the Philippines more than doubled to 1,765 tonnes swt.