Red Meat Sector Conference date unveiled
The Meat Industry Association (MIA) have announced the dates for the 2025 Red Meat Sector Conference.
Lower volumes from meat processing plants are impacting export returns for New Zealand red meat.
According to the Meat Industry Association, the red meat sector exported products worth $564 million in September, down 8% from September last year, with lower production levels impacting volume.
The US was the largest export market at $143 million, 5%, followed by China which dropped 41% year-on-year to $106 million.
Meat Industry Association chief executive Sirma Karapeeva says there was ongoing demand for New Zealand red meat, but lower production levels affected export returns.
“The most noticeable trend for the month, and the third quarter, was the drop in the volume of exports compared to last year,” says Karapeeva.
“This appears to be largely due to a drop in production over recent months. There has been less meat produced and available for export.
“In general, there is still demand, except perhaps in China, but supplies have been constrained in recent months.”
Between January and May, beef production was up 4% on the same period last year and sheepmeat production was up 6%. However, between June and August, both beef and sheepmeat production were down by 24%.
Karapeeva said the opportunity to target a large range of markets and those with strong demand was helping companies to mitigate fluctuations.
There were increases in both sheep and beef exports to Canada, up 71% to $40 million, the Netherlands, up 48% to $30 million and to the UK, which grew 5% to $25 million.
While beef exports to the US fell by 4% by volume in September to 8,244 tonnes, the value increased by 15% to $90 million. The average value of New Zealand red meat exports to the US also grew from $9.14/kg to $10.92/kg.
The volume of sheepmeat exports to the UK increased by 36% to 1,806 tonnes but the value was up by 46% to $18 million. Similarly, sheepmeat exports to the EU were up 12% by volume to 3,086 tonnes but the value was up 23% to $55 million.
The CEO of Apples and Pears NZ, Karen Morrish, says the strategic focus of her organisation is to improve grower returns.
A significant breakthrough in understanding facial eczema (FE) in livestock brings New Zealand closer to reducing the disease’s devastating impact on farmers, animals, and rural communities.
Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.
OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).
The 2024-25 season apple harvest has “well and truly exceeded expectations”, says Apples and Pears NZ chief executive Karen Morrish.
Through collaborative efforts with exhibitors, visitors, and industry partners, Fieldays says it is reaffirming its commitment to environmental responsibility with new initiatives for 2025.
OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…
OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…