Goat exports decline through winter

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Australian goatmeat exports totalled 2,403 tonnes swt in August, down 27% year-on-year. This decrease rounds off total exports for winter at 5,229 tonnes swt, slipping 45% from the corresponding period last year.

Contributing to the decline was average weekly eastern states goat slaughter, reported by MLA, easing 4% year-on-year, 31,660 head. Tighter supplies have enabled goat over-the-hook rates to remain at record levels, 116¢ higher year-on-year, to average 449¢/kg cwt (12-16kg cwt) in August.

Goatmeat exports to the US eased 40%, to 1,168 tonnes swt in August, while shipments to Canada decreased 76%, to 87 tonnes swt. Exports to Japan were steady, at 39 tonnes swt, while volumes to Taiwan and Korea slipped 28% and 26%, to 175 tonnes swt and 118 tonnes swt, respectively. Volumes to China and Hong Kong both lifted significantly, to 103 tonnes swt and 442 tonnes swt in August.