February 4, 2013
China's 2012 beef imports rise 205% on-year
China's 2012 beef imports skyrocketed to 61,386 tonnes swt, 205% above 2011 and 366% higher than the five-year average, with November and December 2012 marking the two highest monthly beef import volumes on record.
Along with beef, Chinese sheep meat imports during 2012 increased 50% on the previous year and doubled the five-year average, to 123,644 tonnes swt, assisted by record monthly imports in December.
With Australia's market share in China beef imports increasing from 39% in 2011 to 44% in 2012, imports from Australia during 2012 finished at 27,293 tonnes swt (up 247% on 2011). Despite a large decrease in market share (at 24%) in 2012, Uruguay remained the second largest supplier, with imports rising 97% on the past year, to 14,497 tonnes swt. The importation of Brazilian beef was also up 316% on 2011, to 8,705 tonnes swt, representing 14% of the Chinese imported beef market share in 2012 (up from 10% in 2011).
Out of Chinese total sheep meat imports during 2012, imports of New Zealand sheep meat during 2012 rose 58% on 2011, to 70,755 tonnes swt, accounting for more than half (57%) of the imported sheep meat market share in 2012. Imports from Australia lifted to 50,754 tonnes swt (up 45% on 2011).
