NEW ZEALAND-MEAT EXPORTS.
In the month of March, New Zealand beef and veal exports increased 11% year-on-year.
The increase was to 41,459 tonnes swt, however, it stayed reasonably constant for the NZ financial year to date (October 2008 to March 2009).
Exports to North America and Asia
According to a report by MLA (Meat & Livestock Australia), exporters increased shipments to Canada during March, with 4,077 tonnes of product sent, up 129% year-on-year. Exports also increased to the US (up 9% to 19,721 tonnes), but was lower to both Japan (down 7% to 2,655 tonnes) and Korea (32% lower to 3,154 tonnes).
Chilled product drop
Despite beef and veal exports being constant for the financial year to date, the amount of chilled product shipped fell 17% to 11,022 tonnes over this period.
Chilled beef volumes for the six month period declined to the US (57%), Korea (69%) and the EU (24%). The drop reflected consumers’ tendency to ’trade down’ to cheaper meat cuts as a consequence of the ongoing economic crisis.
It also reflects a 36% rise in the number of cows slaughtered compared to last season. Chilled beef exports to the Middle East increased 35% over the same six month period, to 2,033 tonnes swt, the report stated.