Record Beef Exports To South Asia In 2010-11
AUSTRALIA - Australian beef exports to South East Asia and Greater China during 2010-11 increased four year-on-year, to a new record of 136,360 tonnes swt.
15 July 2011
2 minute read
The overall growth reflects strong demand within emerging economies, where the dominance of a more sophisticated younger population and increased incomes promotes demand for Australian red meat as a protein source.
Contributing to the rise was double digit export growth to most markets in the region. Australian beef exports to China (7,169 tonnes swt), Malaysia (13,903 tonnes swt), Singapore (8,257 tonnes swt), Thailand (2,275 tonnes swt) and Vietnam (1,073 tonnes swt) all reached new records during 2010-11, alongside the highest volume sent to the Philippines (21,368 tonnes swt) in 13 years. The exception to these was a decline to Indonesia (9 per cent), Hong Kong (27 per cent) and Taiwan (one per cent).
Several factors contributed to slower growth in other markets during 2010-11, however, one of the major factors was the Indonesian government tightening permit allocations on beef imports in June 2010 to promote self sufficiency targets by 2014. During the 12 months to June 2011, Australia exported only 45,065 tonnes swt of beef to Indonesia. Beef shipments to Taiwan eased 1 per cent during 2010-11 to 31,491 tonnes swt, despite increased demand for Australian product over the five months to June to replace US beef.
Offsetting the 27 per cent fall in beef exports to Hong Kong (to 5,759 tonnes swt) during 2010-11 was the 66 per cent jump in shipments to China, as local government's stringent food safety control boosted demand for imported meat.
The demand outlook for Australian beef from South East Asia and Greater China remains strong for the rest of 2011. However, shipments to Indonesia, the largest market of Australian beef in the region, will depend on local government control over beef import permits.
TheCattleSite News Desk
