Australia predicts record cattle exports to MENA
02/08/2013
Australian beef exports to the region have increased from 7,094 tonnes swt (per hundredweight) in 2003 to 32,737 tonnes in 2012 and a record tonnage is expected for 2013.
Strong demand from Saudi Arabia has been the catalyst for growth, as a BSE-related ban on Brazilian beef in late 2012 created a gap in the market, presenting an opportunity for Australian beef.
Australian beef exports to Saudi Arabia have averaged 4,256 tonnes swt over the past five years. However, for the first four months of 2013, Australian exports totalled 9,223 tonnes swt – up more than eightfold year-on-year.
Sheepmeat exports have also set a record-breaking pace this year, led by strong growth in lamb exports to Bahrain and Iran. Australian lamb exports to Bahrain totalled 9,713 tonnes swt in 2012-13, up from 229 tonnes swt in 2011-12.
The UAE remains Australia’s largest lamb market, accounting for 25% of Australian exports, while Jordan (20%) also took large quantities of Australian lamb.
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