December 21, 2004

Australia's Live Cattle Export Trade Remains Slow

While Australia's live animal trade has continued to suffer even though processed meat exports have benefited from the BSE outbreak in the US.

Live cattle exports for October were down 20 per cent on last year's figures, even though the value of the trade was down just 8 per cent.

"In October, almost 54,000 head of cattle were exported, and shipments to Israel boosted the month's figures by almost 12,000 head.

"Overall, October is on par with the year's trend - that exports are down 18 per cent, but the total value down just 3 per cent.

"Meat and Livestock Australia's Mike Heywood says our cattle has simply been too expensive for markets like the Philippines and Malaysia.

"He says it's hard to predict what 2005 might bring for the industry, but it's likely the decline in export numbers will continue for the time being."

"That's going to occur whenever our prices are as high as they are now, which is largely being driven by the fact that the US is out of markets around the world."