Australia beef exports to US up; live cattle exports to Southeast Asia down

Cattle live export demand from South East Asia is on the downward trend but beef exports to the US were up, according to Perth-based Dean Ryan from the live export company SEALS.

Ryan said a larger amount of boxed beef going into these markets, particularly largest customer Indonesia, has pulled down live cattle demand.

While shipments of boxed beef to Indonesia have slowed this month, such shipments to this market during February and March were very high.

After a few weeks of steady over-the-hook grid rates, prices for some lines, however, eased slightly at southern Queensland plants early this week.

Best steers were quoted at 285c/kg, down 5c/kg, and heavy cows 270c/kg.

However, 100-day grain steers are firm at 345c/kg and best EU steers are still selling to 335c/kg, giving EU producers a very handy margin.