November 12, 2019

Turkey stops approving licences for live cattle imports

Officials in Turkey have stopped issuing new licences for the importation of live cattle into the country, several Irish exporters have confirmed to AgriLand.

For now, no new licence is expected to  be granted in Turkey for live cattle imports. However, existing licences can be filled, although Irish contracts are believed to be few and far between at this stage.

While it is not known how long the suspension of issuing licences will last, the matter could drag on for several months. The suspension is linked to Turkey's beef prices and the number of cattle in its domestic system - officials will often suspend live cattle imports to stabilise beef prices and prevent an oversupply in the market.

The suspension is also unwelcome news for Irish beef farmers, as live exports provide much needed competition at the ringside. The Turkish market provided an outlet for weanling bulls this autumn, with a number of shipments completed in recent weeks.

According to Bord Bia figures, the total number of cattle exported live to Turkey stands at 5,176 head so far this year; this is well behind the 12,870 head that were shipped in 2018.

- AgriLand