After two consecutive years of back-to-back record live cattle exports, 2016 has witnessed a significant decline in shipments, underpinned by tight supplies, high prices and emerging in-market challenges.
Nevertheless, slaughter and feeder cattle exports will come close to one million head this year and will mark the third highest annual total in the past decade.
On a twelve month rolling total (year ending November), feeder and slaughter cattle exports have declined to most markets, with total numbers back 23% year-on-year, at almost 986,000 head (ABS, DAWR). As highlighted in the recently released December edition of LiveLink:
- Feeder and slaughter cattle exports to Indonesia have declined 13% over the past twelve months, to 573,000 head – accounting for around 58% of total exports
- Exports to Vietnam declined 42%, to 204,000 head
- Numbers to Israel declined 28%, to 65,000 head
- Turkey has re-emerged as a major market, particularly in recent months, with numbers increasing seventeen-fold over the past year, to 41,000 head
There were limited slaughter and no feeder cattle exported to China, with just two air freight consignments recorded in 2016, up from the single consignment in 2015.
The price of cattle in Australia throughout 2016 has resulted in a lack of incentive for importers in China to develop the trade. There has been a slow down in the development of supply chains for Australian cattle due to high prices and restrictive protocol conditions.
https://www.mla.com.au/prices-markets/market-news/cattle-exports-to-finish-2016-lower/
