May 18, 2007
Australia expects steady beef exports to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong
Australia expects the beef trade with China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan would remain stable in coming months, according to Australia's meat marketing agency Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA).
Australian beef exports to China ( including Taiwan and Hong Kong) rose 12 percent in April on-year, to 2,875 tonnes.
Beef exports there rose 8 percent for the first quarter 2007, to 9,586 tonnes.
The beef comprised 94 percent (9,034 tonnes) grass-fed beef and six percent (551 tonnes) grain-fed beef.
MLA said that while shipments of grain-fed beef to China and Hong Kong increased 150 percent (to 105 tonnes) and 48 percent (to 127 tonnes), respectively, grain-fed exports to Taiwan fell 26 percent over the same period, to 319 tonnes.
However, loin cut shipments to Taiwan jumped 87 percent (to 455 tonnes), 10 percent to China (to 98 tonnes), and 12 percent to Hong Kong (to 344 tonnes).
MLA reports that chilled beef exports to the region fell by 10 percent during the same period, to 1,007 tonnes, mainly due to decreased shipments to Taiwan.
Rising US beef exports to Taiwan has impacted on Australian chilled beef, according to MLA.
US beef was previously banned from Taiwan due to mad cow disease concerns. Exports were lifted last year.
Prices for various US cuts have sold at much lower prices than the Australian product and that before Taiwan banned US beef years ago.
Australian chilled shipments to Taiwan during January to April 2007, were 27 percent below year ago levels, to 418 tonnes. Exports of chilled beef to China and Hong Kong increased nine percent and seven percent, respectively, on the same time last year.
Despite pressures such as a strong currency and US competition, MLA said the beef trade to the region should remain steady over the next few months.