NZ beef exports steady so far this season

This season-to-date (October to July), New Zealand (NZ) beef exports have been fairly similar to the corresponding period last year – at just over 379,000 tonnes swt (Statistics NZ).

Lower volumes to the US, largely the result of rising domestic production levels, were somewhat offset by a notable year-on-year increase in shipments to China. For the October to July period, compared to the same time last year, beef exports to:

• the US decreased 10%, to 186,224 tonnes swt
• China increased 30%, to 67,144 tonnes swt
• South East Asia increased 6%, to 22,863 tonnes swt
• Taiwan increased 25%, to 25,869 tonnes swt
• Canada increased 23%, to 17,768 tonnes swt

Over the last few weeks, AgriHQ have reported that rising US domestic beef production has created some uncertainty for NZ beef exporters around the impact on imported prices going forward.  In recent weeks, demand in the US imported beef market has been particularly subdued – despite limited supplies from both NZ and Australia. 

For the October to July period, NZ adult cattle slaughter declined 4% year-on- year – with just shy of 2.35 million head processed. As a result, NZ beef production was down 3% over the same period, to 576,103 tonnes cwt.