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More beef to Korea in September
08 October 2015
Australian beef exports to Korea rose 17% year-on-year during September, to 13,288 tonnes shipped weight (swt), according to Department of Agriculture trade data. The increase was consistent across most categories, except for chilled grassfed beef, which recorded a small decline.
Large increases in exports were recorded for brisket, which jumped almost four times, to 1,536 tonnes swt, chuck roll, up 22%, to 3,505 tonnes swt, and manufacturing beef, up 55%, to 1,818 tonnes swt. Much of these increases can be attributed to some exporters having to divert a portion of their trade away from the US, due to limited quota allocations.
In contrast, short rib exports, which are usually dominated by trade to Korea, were actually 48% lower during September, at 695 tonnes swt. Australian short ribs are currently facing increased competition from the US, which has had large falls in beef prices over the last two months, and where there is a large number of slaughter-ready cattle in feedlots.
