Sluggish Chinese market hits meat export
The depressed state of the Chinese economy continues impact on the value of NZ’s red meat exports.
The recent short-lived ban on Brazilian beef by its major customers is unlikely to increase demand for New Zealand products.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Tim Ritchie says NZ doesn’t compete directly with Brazilian beef in most markets, apart from China.
“For example, Brazil does not have access to some of NZ’s major beef markets including Taiwan, Korea and Japan,” he told Rural News.
Brazilian beef exporters are breathing easier after China and Egypt last week lifted a ban on their products.
China and other importers of Brazilian beef issued bans after Brazilian federal police unveiled on March 17 an investigation into alleged payments to government health officials by meat processing companies to forego inspections and ignore abuses.
Ritchie says in the short term the ban may not have made much impact on global beef markets.
“Media have reported that China and Egypt – two major importers of Brazilian beef – have already lifted bans on Brazilian imports.
However, Brazilian beef is likely to face increased inspections in many countries, and some international customers may be less willing to purchase Brazilian beef.”
Brazil is also a small exporter to the lucrative US market. Although the US opened its market to beef imports from all parts of Brazil in August last year, exports to the US are still relatively small (847 tonnes last year).
Ritchie says Brazil does not have a country-specific quota like NZ and Australia, so it will compete for space in the 64,805 tonne “others” quota.
Meat is Brazil’s third-largest export, after soy and iron ore.
Ritchie says the controversy underlines the importance of having a strong and credible regulatory system, which New Zealand has.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…
OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…