Exports of Australian beef to Russia have surged to 38,436 tonnes, as volumes to the U.S. decline and exports to the Middle East are up 58 per cent year to date.
MLA international market and economic services general manager Peter Barnard said there were positive signs in markets such as Russia, the Middle East, South East Asia and China at a time Australia’s mature markets are struggling.
C[pounds sterling]While our long-term customers in Japan and the US continue to face economic adversity and decreased consumer confidence, and competition increasing in Korea, emerging markets are experiencing growth,C[yen] he said.
Conditions are ideal for us to ramp up our international marketingprograms and capitalise on the opportunity to build and develop the profile of Australian beef in these markets,C[yen] said Dr Barnard.
Exports of Australian beef to Japan are down 3% this year to date,due largely to the low US$ making US beef more competitive in that market. The weakening of the US$ against the A$ has also seen volumes of Australian beef to the US decrease by 25%.
C[pounds sterling]Russia has imported more than 38,000 tonnes of Australian beef in the year to date Co a significant proportion of theexport volume normally sold to the US. This is not only due to currency but also reduced supplies from South America,C[yen] he said.
In the Middle East, Australian exports have grown from 4,374 tonnes in 2007 to 15,753 tonnes in 2009.
The trend has continued in 2010, with exports for the first ten months of 2010 to the Middle East rising 59%, to over 19,000 tonnes.
Within the region, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), comprisingBahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates,has undergone rapid economic growth due to high oil prices and increased demand for support services.
C[pounds sterling]In South East Asia and China, Australian beef exports to October 2010 are up by 4% year on year, following a 35% increase in 2009, with this export growth driven by demand in developing Asian markets such as Indonesia, China and the Philippines.
Total population in this region is estimated at 1.9 billion Co 27%of the world’s total population Co and with income growth comes increased consumption of proteins including beef.C[yen]
