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NZ beef exports higher start to the season
30 March 2016
New Zealand (NZ) beef exports have totalled 167,192 tonnes swt for the season-to-date (October 2015-February 2016) – up 4% on year-ago levels (Statistics NZ).
After the first five months, compared to the previous year, shipments to:
- The US decreased 15%, to 77,124 tonnes swt
- China increased 102%, to 32,032 tonnes swt
- Canada increased 94%, to 9,972 tonnes swt
- Taiwan increased 34%, to 9,758 tonnes swt
- South East Asia increased 5%, to 9,869 tonnes swt
- Japan decreased 38%, to 5,331 tonnes swt
Highlighted in a recent report by AgriHQ, US imported beef prices have continued to ease throughout the month. However, as a result of low supply of imported beef in the market, and a considerable reduction in boneless beef cold stores, demand is likely to improve in the short term.
Looking forward, NZ beef shipments for the 2015-16 season are forecast to reach 400,000 tonnes swt – down 7% from the record volumes in 2014-15, which were driven by high beef returns and low dairy prices (Beef + Lamb NZ).