Livestock prices – Goat prices across all categories fell 21% year-on-year in 2011-12, to an average 255¢/kg cwt, however, this remains 28% above the prices received in 2003-04 when the earliest domestic goat prices were recorded (MLA’s NLRS).
Prices peaked in 2010-11, when the average price for a 16-20kg goat fetched 325¢/kg, underpinned by renewed overseas demand and low sheep supplies due to flock rebuilding efforts after the drought years.
Export volumes – Despite goat meat exports declining 5% year-on-year in 2011-12, shipments were 65% above the volumes exported in 2001-02 (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).
The recent decline was largely due to the fluctuating A$ and an increase in the supply of lamb and mutton throughout the year – factors that have greatly influenced the goat industry throughout the decade.
The US was the largest export destination for Australian goat meat over the past 10 years, accounting for 53% of the total market in 2011-12, at 12,898 tonnes swt.
Shipments to the Caribbean have increased steadily since 2001-02, up 80%, to reach 3,053 tonnes swt in 2011-12, while shipments to Taiwan fluctuated greatly over the same 10 year period, dropping 20%, to 3,608 tonnes swt.
Export values – Goat meat export values fell 9% in 2011-12, to A$114 million FOB – however, this fall occurred on the back of the largest export value on record in 2010-11, and remained 147% above the returns registered in 2001-02 (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Over the past 10 years, the export value of shipments to most markets surged, including the US (up 239%, to A$56 million), the Caribbean (up 131%, to A$11 million) and Canada (up 156%, to A$8 million), while returns to Taiwan have remained relatively steady, increasing just 2% over the same period, to A$14 million.
Live exports – Live goat exports increased 5% year-on-year during 2011-12, to 71,895 head, with an associated export value of A$9.7 million FOB (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
While this is 48% lower than the volume shipped in 2001-02, it must be noted that the comparison is drawn against the highest export year on record.
Malaysia has consistently been the largest export destination for Australian live goats over the decade, increasing 60% since 2001-02, to reach 63,117 head in the last fiscal year.
This market dominance by Malaysia has seen a contraction in exports to other traditional markets, with shipments to Singapore and Brunei falling 37% and 81%, respectively, over the same 10 year period.
Source: MLA.com
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