Australian beef exports reached a historically high level in 2004 and equalled 914,000 tonnes, a 9% increase on the 2003 total. Lamb exports for 2004 totalled 111,600 tonnes, a 6% rise on the total for 2003 and the second highest calendar year level on record after 2000.
Australia’s main beef export markets were Japan, the USA and Korea, accounting for almost 91% of all exports. The BSE-related ban on US beef increased demand for Australian product in the Japanese and Korean markets. Exports to Japan were the highest on record, with recorded 393,000 tonnes, a rise of 41% from 2003. Japan was the largest single market for Australian beef exports accounting for 43% of the total in 2004.
Lamb destinations reporting record totals included the USA, China and the Middle East. Shipments to Japan were the second highest on record, having risen 30% to 7,234 tonnes. The USA was the single largest export market for Australian lamb in 2004, receiving a record 32,008 tonnes and accounting for 29% of Australia’s total lamb exports.
Australian beef exports to Canada in 2004 plummeted to just 7,390 tonnes, a 75% drop on the previous year’s total due to BSE-related issues. Shipments to South Asia declined for the calendar year, with shipments to Taiwan dropping by 15% on 2003 and exports to Indonesia and the Philippines 45% and 77% respectively.
The only major lamb market to weaken in 2004 was the European Union (EU), where exports fell by 15%, to 11,900 tonnes. This decline was due largely to a 21% drop in exports to the UK caused by the high price of Australia lamb.
