During March 2003, Australian exports of live cattle decreased 30% to 42,170 head, compared with February 2003. Exports were valued at A$28.7 million ($20.9 million) and were down 16.5%, year on year.

Exports for the first quarter of 2003, however, increased 29% to 179,017 head and were worth A$115.4 million ($84 million).

The average price of live cattle exported during March was A$682 per head, which is the highest rate since May last year. The high prices were fuelled by strong demand from China (A$1,646/head), Japan (A$988/head) and Brunei (A$844/head).

Cattle shipments to Malaysia fell 49% in March compared with February, to 3,550 head. For the first three months of the year, shipments to Malaysia increased 57% to 19,900 head and accounted for 11% of the total trade. Exports to the Philippines, meanwhile, were down 64% to 2,747 head, as demands for cattle declined during Easter holy week.

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