The volume of beef exported from New Zealand to China has jumped 56% to almost 46,000t between October 2015 to April 2016.
According to Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), demand from China is strong, particularly for higher value cuts, while South America is providing increased competition for lower value products.
However, it shows that Kiwi beef exports declined by 2% year-on-year, reaching just over 251,800t in over the six month period, mainly due to lower shipments to the US and South East Asia.
It also shows that the volume of beef exported from New Zealand to the US declined by 14% between October 2015 and April of this year, due to a subdued beef trade in the US at present.
New Zealand beef exports to South East Asia also dropped, it shows, while exports volumes to Taiwan and Canada moved up by 27% and 33% respectively.
Despite the increased volume of New Zealand beef available on the Chinese market, the opening of the Chinese market to Irish beef last February was welcomed by many industry commentators.
But, full access to the Chinese market has yet to be granted and the Department of Agriculture are working closely with Chinese authorities to finalise the remaining technical steps to allow the trade to commence.
The now former Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney said China represents a ‘vast opportunity‘ because of its huge population and highlighted what has happened with pork and dairy products over the past five years.
The volume and value of beef exports to China will be determined this year by when we get into the market, he said.
Coveney also said that it could be the first or second quarter of the year before Irish beef is granted full access to China.
We will have to wait and see. It is up to the Chinese but we are working well with them.
Irish Beef Exports To China