Australian beef and veal exports to China reached a record high in September, surging 366% year-on-year to 4,060 tonnes swt (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).
The September shipments to China were only 27% below the total for the whole of 2010 (5,600 tonnes swt), while exports for the first nine months of 2012 totalled 9,746 tonnes swt, exceeding the total shipments of 2011 (7,754 tonnes swt) by 26%.
Almost all (97%) the beef shipped to China during September was frozen product (3,927 tonnes swt), with only 133 tonnes swt chilled.
However, chilled beef and veal exports in September were 58% above the same month of the previous year, while frozen exports jumped 399% year-on-year.
Underpinning the surge during September was stronger demand for frozen manufacturing beef (1,768 tonnes swt), with shipments increasing 356% and 287%, respectively, compared to August 2012 and September 2011.
Brisket, which usually accounts for just a small proportion of the total beef and veal shipments to China also showed a significant year-on-year increase, up from 27 tonnes swt to 713 tonnes swt - representing 18% of the total shipments in September.
Australian sheepmeat exports to China for September also increased, totalling 3,962 tonnes swt (up 34% year-on-year).
Despite an 8% year-on-year decline in lamb exports to China (2,101 tonnes swt), a surge in Australian mutton exports, up 177%, to 1,862 tonnes swt boosted the total sheepmeat volume.
For the first nine months of 2012, Australian sheepmeat exports to China have already exceeded 2011 volumes (26,307 tonnes swt), totalling 26,621 tonnes swt.
The most popular cuts exported to China during September for both mutton and lamb remained frozen breast and flap – 1,004 tonnes swt of mutton (up 136% year-on-year) and 1,468 tonnes swt of lamb (down 10% year-on-year). Breast and flap accounted for 62% of Australia’s sheepmeat exports to China during September.
Source: Argentine Beef Packers S.A.
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