Australia-Beef exports slowdown.

AUSTRALIA-BEEF EXPORT SLOWDOWN.

A Japanese economy and the United States’s advance back into its former beef markets in Japan are taking their toll on Australian beef exports.

Meat and Livestock Australia’s latest summary of Japan’s beef exports show that Australia shipped 27 per cent less beef volume in December 2008 compared to December 2007, which translated to a 36pc drop in value.

Australia now holds 78pc of the Japanese beef market, compared to 83pc in 2007; the US has bumped its share of the market up from 7pc to 12pc.

Australia’s frozen beef shipments took the biggest hit, shedding 40pc from December 2007, when 24,681 tonnes were shipped, to 14,729t in December 2008.

The Japanese market for frozen beef contracted 33pc over the same period.

However, Australia managed to mostly hold onto its high-value chilled beef markets, losing only a 4pc share month-on-month in a sector that grew by 2pc over the period.

Year-on-year, Australian tonnages shipped to Japan dropped by 9pc in 2008 compared to 2007, or 14pc in value.