Exports ease, slaughter tracks higher
17 February 2016
Australian goatmeat exports in January declined 8% year-on-year, to 2,179 tonnes swt (Department of Agriculture and Water Resources). Despite a considerable increase in volumes to the US, the lower overall export volume was largely underpinned by reduced shipments to the Greater China region.
Trends include:
- volumes to Taiwan volumes declined to 146 tonnes swt, compared to 482 tonnes swt in January last year
- shipments to Korea were down 6% year-on-year, to 105 tonnes swt
- exports to Canada slipped 45%, to 102 tonnes swt
- shipments to the US lifted 22%, to 1,553 tonnes swt
The relatively fine and dry conditions in January saw average weekly eastern states goat slaughter levels lift 30% year-on-year, to 34,450 head. Furthermore, the export over-the-hook goat indicator (12-16kg cwt) averaged 511¢/kg cwt in January – 137¢ higher than the corresponding month last year.
Average weekly slaughter levels in NSW and SA increased 68% and 66% year-on-year, to 3,317 head and 10,478 head, respectively. While slaughter levels reduced considerably in Victoria throughout the second half of 2015, January 2016 saw the average weekly goat kill double on the same period last year, to 9,836 head. Queensland goat slaughter decreased 20% to average 10,820 head per week during the month; however remains the largest state contributor.
