April 27, 2007

Australia ups its March beef market share in Singapore

Australian beef exports to Singapore rose 31 percent by 1,938 tonnes slaughterweight (swt), gaining a 21 percent market share over its competing exporters, up from the 18 percent it posted from the same period last year. However, Singapore's total Australian beef imports fell by 4 percent in the first quarter of 2007 to 5,281 tonnes swt.

Over the calendar year to March, beef imports from Australia and New Zealand rose 118 percent and 14 percent, to 1,095 tonnes swt and 516 tonnes swt, respectively. New Zealand beef accounted for 10 percent of beef imports - down 12 percent on the same time last year. Brazil dominated the frozen market with a 68 percent share of total imports but overall volume was down 17 percent, to 3,589 tonnes during the first quarter of 2007.

Chilled beef imports into Singapore during January to March 2007 were up 11 percent on 2006, to 577 tonnes swt with Australia gaining a large share of 59 percent (338 tonnes swt) and New Zealand with 31 percent (181 tonnes swt), down 10 percent from a year ago level.

The US accounted for 9 percent of chilled beef imports during the first quarter and only 1 percent of total imports into Singapore.

With Singapore's expanding foodservice industry this year, Australia expects strong beef exports particularly for high quality chilled beef in the city state.