Australia’s October beef exports ease

Shipments for October were down 16% year-on-year, at 102,885 t shipped weight (swt), however this is relative to the largest monthly beef export volume ever recorded for Australia (122,456 t swt, October 2014).

While exports in October slowed relative to the same time last year, after the first ten months, Australian beef exports are 2% above last year’s record volume, at 1.08 mill. t swt – highlighting how large volumes were earlier in the year.

Limited by quota restrictions, Australian beef exports to the US were the lowest monthly volume for the year so far, at 22,072 t swt, back 48% on last October.

Despite this, shipments for the year-to-October were still 14% above the previous year, at 362,905 t swt, with the trade bolstered by limited US lean beef supplies and favourable currency movements.

Australian beef exports to Japan slowed 7% year-on-year in October, at 26,151 t swt, taking volumes for the year-to-October to 238,150 t swt, back slightly at 1% from last year.

Korea has been one of the strongest performing markets of 2015, with the October volume (14,696 t swt) up 9% from the same month last year. After ten months, the volume shipped to Korea is also up 9% at 133,830 t swt, assisted by the weaker Australian dollar and reduced US competition.

Similarly, Australian beef to China for October surged to 13,709 t swt (up 52% year-on-year), taking the year-to-date volume to 120,304 t swt – up 14% year-on-year. There has been a growing Chinese appetite for Australian beef, while at the same time the grey channel trade has reportedly tightened this year.

Australian beef to Indonesia increased considerably (27% year-on-year) for the month, at 7,537 t swt, while shipments to Taiwan were steady, at 2,701 t swt.

Shipments for November and December will feel the same pressure from lower cattle slaughter and limited availability of quota to the US.