Australian Red Meat Exports Surge Amid Global Demands
TL;DR: In a remarkable development for the Australian red meat industry, exports have experienced a significant surge, reaching new heights in response to global demand. February’s figures show a 36% increase in red meat exports compared to the same period last year, totalling 150,118 tonnes. This growth is attributed to the robust demand in key […]
Subsidies a Bridge Too Far for WTO Talks
TL;DR: During the recent discussions held by the World Trade Organisation in Abu Dhabi, a pivotal issue emerged, casting a shadow over the proceedings. The crux of the matter lay in the substantial agricultural subsidies maintained by the world’s affluent nations, coupled with India’s insistence on securing concessions for its agricultural support measures. This stance […]
Meat Industry Groups Voice Strong Opposition to Packers and Stockyards Act Updates
TL;DR: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its intention to finalise the “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act” on March 5. This new rule is designed to provide more effective standards to ensure fair access to economic opportunities, addressing the issue of market consolidation observed over the last […]
China Pork Market Update: 2023 Challenges Extend into 2024
TL;DR: In 2023, China witnessed a 5% increase in pork production, reaching 57.94 million tonnes, attributed to heightened slaughter activities and an oversupply in the domestic market. This surge in production led to reduced margins for producers and an uptick in culling rates. However, the outlook for 2024 suggests a contraction in the pig population, […]
Weekly Update: Weather Affects Slaughter Rates and Central Queensland Adjusts Prices
TL;DR: The weather has once again influenced cattle slaughter rates in Queensland and northern New South Wales, maintaining a pattern seen throughout the early months of the year. Localised storms have compounded the difficulties in transporting cattle to slaughterhouses, particularly in Southeast Queensland, which saw up to 100 mm of rainfall recently. This has led […]
Brazil Fills Its 2024 US Quota: Implications for Australian Beef
TL;DR: Brazil, along with a few other smaller beef exporting countries, has recently met its tariff-free export quota to the United States for the year 2024. This development means that for the remainder of the year, these countries, including Brazil, will face a 26.4% tariff on any additional beef exports to the US. This situation […]
Low Methane Sheep Genetics Research: Your Questions Answered
TL;DR: Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has garnered considerable attention from farmers regarding its pioneering research into low methane sheep genetics. As this topic is set to be discussed at B+LNZ’s upcoming Annual Meeting, the organisation aims to shed light on the project and address common queries. Why the Focus on Low Methane Sheep? […]
China and the US Dictate Red Meat’s Fortunes
TL;DR: The market forecast for New Zealand’s red meat in 2024 presents a modest improvement over the previous year, yet the sector continues to face significant challenges. With the global economy’s influence on meat prices, any substantial recovery hinges on a worldwide increase in consumer confidence and employment stability. New Zealand’s meat industry excels in […]
Sluggish Chinese Market Impacts Meat Exports
TL;DR: The Meat Industry Association (MIA) of New Zealand has reported a downturn in meat exports for January 2024, with a notable 8% decrease to $759 million compared to January 2023. This decline marks the lowest January result since 2019, primarily due to a 21% reduction in exports to China, amounting to $263 million. MIA […]
Lamb Metrics Edge Closer to the End Goal
TL;DR: Earlier forecasts had predicted a significant drop in farmgate lamb prices to around mid-$5/kg by February. However, a fortunate turn of events occurred due to a shortage of lambs entering processing plants from late January to March, preventing this predicted drop. While the fall in AgriHQ’s lamb indicators to $5.80-$6.10/kg wasn’t celebrated, it was […]
