Australian beef exports recover in September
Australian beef and veal exports recovered during September, following August's unexpected decline due partly to a trucking strike in Queensland.
While shipments to the US continue to be weak, demand from South East Asia and Russia remained strong. Exports for the month totalled 83,553 tonnes swt, up 15 percent year-on-year.
The 9,349 tonnes of beef sent to Korea during September was down 10 percent on the previous September, with trading reportedly sluggish, as the US continues to increase its presence in the market.
Exports to the US for September slipped 12 percent year-on-year, to 22,117 tonnes swt, with shipments for January to September back at 34 percent on the same period last year, at 152,451 tonnes swt, the lowest level since 1996.
In contrast to Korea and the US, exports continue to surge to Japan and South East Asia, with shipments to Japan up 13 percent and exports to Indonesia 16 percent higher year-on-year, while volumes to the Philippines and Taiwan also increased significantly.
The Commonwealth of Independent (CIS) states, namely Russia, continues to attract large volumes of Australian beef, receiving 5,059 tonnes swt during September, well down on August but up from only 1,000 tonnes swt in September last year.