CANBERRA: Growing demand for grainfed beef helped push total Australian beef exports to the EU to 24,037 tonnes shipped weight for 2014/15.
Meat and Livestock Australia reports that volume is a 5 per cent increase on the previous fiscal year. In contrast, grassfed beef exports declined 9pc year-on-year, to 7492 tonnes swt.
Australia’s utilisation of its “Hilton Quota” declined slightly in 2014-15, with utilisation at 95pc (or 6815 tonnes swt), down from 99pc in 2013-14.
The UK has historically been the largest market in the EU for Australia and remained the case in 2014-15. While accounting for 48pc of total imports in 2013-14, that percentage declined to only 41pc in 2014-15 (or 9797 tonnes swt).
The continued growth in grainfed beef shipments has allowed Australia to diversify its markets in the EU, with further growth in exports to Italy (up 9pc to 5843 tonnes swt), the Netherlands (up 29pc, to 5711 tonnes swt) and Denmark (up 12pc to 1168 tonnes swt).
The Australian cut mix heading to the EU comprised mostly of loin cuts, topside, striploin and rump, combining to account for 43.5pc of total shipments.
Total EU beef imports under the HQB “grainfed” quota increased 15pc on the previous fiscal year, to 47,605 tonnes swt (EU Commission) – the highest usage registered since the quota was established, with all quarters achieving critical usage status (90pc).
Australia’s exports under the quota increased 13pc year-on-year, to 16,545 tonnes swt and accounted for 35pc of total imports.
