December 20, 2005

Australian beef exports to Philippines up in November
 

Australian beef exports to the Philippines reached 1,066 tonnes (shipping weight) in November, up 461 percent compared with the same period in 2004, Meat & Livestock Australia Limited (MLA) said.

From January to November, exports to the Philippines totalled 2,707 tonnes (sw), up 45 percent year-on-year.

In particular, Australian exports of manufacturing cuts to the Philippines rose significantly in November to 1,051 tonnes. This was mainly due to the recent foot and mouth disease outbreaks in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, which resulted in bans on beef from the region, MLA said.

Fearing a possible nationwide ban on Brazilian beef, Philippine importers turned to purchasing Australian manufacturing beef for guaranteed supplies, despite their relatively high prices, MLA added.