New Zealand red meat industries
Similar to Australia, New Zealand’s red meat production sector is strongly export orientated. Because of this, the revenues of its red meat exporters and producers are largely dependent on international prices; exchange rates; seasonal/climatic conditions and abnormalities; and animal disease and food safety shocks.
The New Zealand sheepmeat industry
New Zealand is the world’s fourth largest producer of lamb and mutton (Australia is the third largest). However, in terms of sheepmeat exports, New Zealand is the world leader, while Australia comes a close second. As a result, New Zealand is Australia’s largest competitor in world lamb and mutton markets.
The main market for New Zealand lamb is the European Union (EU), which takes 51% of New Zealand’s export volume, generates 62% of its export value and is subject to a tariff-free quota of 227,600 tonnes carcase weight equivalent (cwe). This is substantially higher than Australia’s sheep meat quota in the EU (18,650 tonnes cwe).
For statistics relating to the New Zealand sheep meat industry see the table below.
|
September year |
2007 |
2008e |
2009f |
|
Livestock numbers as at 30 June (million head) |
|
|
|
|
Mated ewes and hoggets |
28.6 |
23.5 |
22.7 |
|
Total sheep |
38.5 |
34.1 |
33.1 |
|
Slaughter (million head) |
|
|
|
|
Lamb slaughter |
26.5 |
21.7 |
21.2 |
|
Production ('000 tonnes cwe) |
|
|
|
|
Lamb production |
437.4 |
381.4 |
370 |
|
Mutton production |
152 |
101e |
- |
|
Average lamb carcase weight (kg/head) |
16.5 |
17.6 |
17.5 |
|
Export volumes ('000 tonnes cwe) |
|
|
|
|
Lamb |
329 |
- |
- |
|
Mutton |
89.6 |
- |
- |
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry New Zealand
The New Zealand beef industry
In terms of total beef production, the New Zealand beef industry is dwarfed by Australia. However, due to its small population limiting the amount of beef and veal that is consumed domestically, the majority of beef produced in New Zealand is exported – positioning New Zealand as the worlds fourth largest beef exporter behind only Brazil, Australia and Argentina.
Due to its proximity to Asia, New Zealand’s competes strongly with Australian beef in the region, particularly in Taiwan and Korea. For further information regarding the New Zealand beef industry refer to the table below.
|
September year |
2007 |
2008e |
2009f |
|
Livestock numbers as at 30 June (million head) |
|
|
|
|
Mated cows and heifers |
1.19 |
1.10 |
1.08 |
|
Total beef cattle |
4.39 |
4.14 |
4.07 |
|
Slaughter (million head) |
|
|
|
|
Calf slaughter |
1.47 |
- |
- |
|
Adult cattle slaughter |
2.21 |
2.32 |
2.21 |
|
Production ('000 tonnes cwe) |
|
|
|
|
Veal production |
24.9 |
- |
- |
|
Beef production |
610 |
- |
- |
|
Average adult cattle carcase weight (kg/head) |
259.5 |
253.8 |
258.4 |
|
Export volumes ('000 tonnes cwe) |
|
|
|
|
Beef & Veal |
797 |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry New Zealand
More information
MLA makes no representations and to the extent permitted by law excludes all warranties in relation to the information contained in this publication. MLA is not liable to you or to any third party for any losses, costs or expenses, including any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or exemplary damages or lost profit, resulting from any use or misuse of the information contained in this publication.
|