May 17, 2013

Australian beef and veal exports to South Asia during April rose 36% on-year, to 11,136 tonnes, according to Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Volumes for the first four months of 2013 totalled 37,445 tonnes, up 5% on-year, which placed the region as the fifth largest regional export destination for Australian beef, following Japan, US, China and South Korea.

The improved monthly shipments were assisted by strong exports to the Philippines, with volumes up almost three fold on-year, at 2,400 tonnes. Exports to the Philippines have maintained record pace during the first four months of 2013, with the volumes totalling 7,522 tonnes, up 56% on-year. While the majority, 82% or 1,977 tonnes, shipped to the Philippines during April. Shin/shank exports were also high, at 196 tonnes.

Exports to Indonesia doubled on-year, to 2,800 tonnes, while there was also favourable trade with both Malaysia and Singapore, at 1,443 tonnes (up 52% on-year) and 944 tonnes (up 26% on-year), respectively. Exports to Thailand were up 4% on-year, at 197 tonnes, and there was improved on-year performance to Vietnam, at 82 tonnes.

However, Australian beef trade to Taiwan has been slow for the past two months, with the April volumes falling 16% on-year, to 2,903 tonnes. This is largely affected by strong global competition for cuts, such as shin/shank (down 18% on-year, to 1,039 tonnes) and blade (down 56% on-year, to 454 tonnes), coupled with increased presence of US beef in the market.

Along with Taiwan, shipments to Hong Kong during April declined 39% on-year, to 367 tonnes, due to a significant decrease in frozen beef exports (down 65% on-year, to 147 tonnes). However, chilled beef exports during April increased 24% on-year, to 220 tonnes.

Australian sheep meat exports to South Asia during April totalled 3,594 tonnes (up 65% on-year). A surge in mutton monthly exports (2,499 tonnes – the highest volumes since December 2009) offset a slight decline (2%) in lamb exports (1,095 tonnes). Mutton exports to Malaysia and Taiwan were particularly strong during April, at 905 tonnes (up 237% on-year) and 849 tonnes (up 126% on-year).