Single market briefs are available by email and mail for $15 for MLA members and $30 for non-members. To order any of our latest market briefs listed below, email marketinfo@mla.com.au or call 02 9463 9163.
Our latest market briefs are listed below. The market briefs all follow a similar format. Take a look at a sample market brief (PDF, 405KB).
North America: Canada - December 2006
This overview of the Canadian red meat industries points to an impressive recovery since the discovery of BSE in 2003, with prices and exports largely restored and local processing capacity expanded. However, the Canadian cow and cow beef sector, and hence beef imports, remains depressed due to the ongoing US ban on imports of older Canadian cattle.
Composition of Australian beef exports - October 2006
This market brief provides an overview of Australian beef supply and demand from 1988 to 2005, reviews factors that have impacted on world beef markets, and shows trends in exports by chilled and frozen, grassfed and grainfed, beef classifications and primal cuts.
Co-products - December 2006 Update
This market brief describes recent trends (to October 2006) in potential cattle co-product values; beef and sheep offal prices; and beef offal export volumes. Japanese offal prices were mostly higher over July to October, as US supplies remained absent from the market, and competition from Korea was strong.
Australian retail and foodservice market briefs
- Domestic market: Foodservice update - July 2006
The latest results from MLA's foodservice tracking survey, conducted by BIS Shrapnel, which examines the weekly purchases of the various meat types in volume and value terms, compares weekly quantities purchased with previous survey periods and identifies the most popular beef and lamb cuts.
- Domestic market - June 2006
This market brief takes a closer look at how beef and lamb is performing at wholesale and retail in Australia, including information on price trends, meat purchasing behaviour and results from the MLA fortnightly butcher survey.
- Foodservice: Fast food and eating out - latest trends - June 2006
This market brief examines the latest trends in eating out, and shows Fast food chains and takeaway outlets are still the most popular places for the purchase of a full meal or snack.
Japan beef market– May 2006
This market brief examines the outlook for Australian beef supply, the importance of the Japanese beef market to Australia, competition in the market and marketing beef in Japan.
Japan lamb market - March 2006
This market brief examines the outlook for Australian lamb supply, the importance of the Japanese lamb market to Australia, competition in the market and marketing lamb in Japan.
More information on our Japan market briefs is available in the Japan section of Market information.
Korean beef market - June 2006
This market brief looks at some of the factors that have historically impacted on Australian beef sales to Korea and what factors can be expected to impact on the level of US beef imports following re-entry. It will also look in more detail at the type of beef we send to the Korean market, and how that beef is used.
More information on our Korea market briefs is available in the Korea section of Market information.
North America: Lamb update - March 2006
2005 saw record volumes of Australian lamb exported to the US. A number of factors worked in Australia's favour to produce this result: reduced US lamb production; substantially high US wholesale and retail lamb prices; and higher Australian supplies and lower prices of heavy export lambs.
Other markets and competitors market briefs
- Brazil - September 2006
This market brief gives an overview of the Brazilian beef sector during 2004 and 2005, as well as the outlook for 2006, including information on Brazil's economic growth, domestic beef consumption, herd size, traceability system and implications for the Australian beef industry.
- China sheepmeat – September 2006
This market brief covers the sheepmarket situation of mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, including information on demographics, the economic situation, the foodservice sector, flock size, competitors and future outlook.
- Argentina – May 2006
This market brief reviews the Argentinean beef sector from 2004 to the present. There is a focus on the current political environment and the overall state of the economy, due to its major impact on the beef industry over the last year and its likely impacts on exports and production in the future.
- Mexico – June 2006
The market brief presents a comprehensive overview of the Mexican red meat and livestock industry, Australia’s red meat and livestock exports to Mexico, and current market access arrangements.
- South Africa - March 2006
This market brief presents a situation analysis of the South African meat market, examining the market and economy, domestic meat production, trade and the outlook for Australian exports.
- Middle East - October 2005
The Middle East region is Australia’s largest market for mutton, accounting for 23% (29,066 tonnes sw) of the volume and 21% (A$89 million) of the value of all mutton exports in 2004. Due to cultural and religious beliefs, Saudi Arabian and UAE consumers have a preference for live sheep locally slaughtered.
Feedlot – September 2006
Australia’s feedlot industry has expanded further, with record capacity and record numbers of cattle on feed as at the end of June. Contributing to the expansion during the quarter was the continued strong export and domestic demand for grainfed beef, along with ongoing dry conditions across the eastern states.
Lotfeeding: March Survey Results – June 2006
The Australian lotfeeding sector is again setting new records, with an unprecedented 896,000 cattle on feed during March, according to the ALFA/MLA March quarter 2006 lotfeeding survey results. The national feedlot capacity was also similar to the record levels reported in December 2005, and 10% above March 2005 levels, at 1.1 million head.
Co-products – August 2006
Improved offal prices in the early part of 2006 and firm demand from key export markets saw a recovery in potential co-product values for cattle during the first four months of the year. However, most offal values were still below year ago levels.