increase font size
New Zealand’s red meat exports reached $6.7 billion in 2017-18.
New Zealand’s red meat exports reached $6.7 billion in 2017-18.
That’s a 21%, or $1.2b, increase over the previous year, according to latest export figures from Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ).
The surge in exports came on the back of sustained high value per tonne and increased volume for lamb, mutton, and beef. Veal and co-products weren’t included.
“While the highlights of the season were record high average values per tonne for lamb and mutton, the average value of beef exports remained high since the marked increase in 2014-15,” says B+LNZ’s chief economist Andrew Burtt.
“Good farm-gate prices and strong average values per tonne for exports occurred throughout the season, even during the fast start to the processing season driven by the dry conditions in December 2017.”
Total lamb exports were over $3.1 billion, up 25% on 2016-17 and 28% higher than the five-year average, with the average value of lamb exports staying over $10,000 per tonne for the entire season. While these levels were reached on occasion in 2010-11 and 2011-12, it was not sustained across the entire season.
Total mutton exports benefitted from limited international supply and strong demand to reach $618 million, up 46% on 2016-17.
Increasing demand for sheepmeat from China, particularly mutton, and tight supply from Australia and New Zealand, increased competition for New Zealand’s sheepmeat. Limited international availability of mutton drove improved value for sub-primal cuts of lamb, which began in mid-2016-17, and lifted the overall average value of lamb exports.
In comparison with lamb and mutton, increases in the volume and value of beef exports this season may seem subdued, but total beef exports exceeded $3 billion, up 14% on 2016-17 and up 17 per cent on the five-year average.
The average value of beef exports has remained steady and strong since the 2014-15 season, driven by demand from the United States for lean manufacturing beef.
However, in 2017-18 China overtook the United States as New Zealand’s largest red meat export market by value and volume. China accounted for one-third of New Zealand’s red meat exports as the trend of an increasing share of New Zealand’s beef exports continued, combined with lifts in the share of lamb and mutton exported.
The United States remains New Zealand’s largest beef export market, but the total share of beef decreased two percentage points to 47%.
Recent widespread autumn rain will have triggered the germination of subterranean clover seeds, and the resulting seedlings should be allowed to reach the 3–4 trifoliate leaf stage before grazing, says Beef+Lamb NZ.
Despite Silver Fern Farms (SFF) posting a $21 million loss last season, chief executive Dan Boulton believes that better days are coming.
A hub farm in each of Beef + Lamb NZ’s seven regions and more focus groups are being rolled out for the red meat sector this year.
The red meat sector is poised for a strong rebound this season, with export receipts forecast to top $10 billion and farm profitability to almost double.
Progeny testing at Pāmu’s Kepler farm in Southland as part of Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Informing New Zealand Beef programme is showing that the benefits of hybrid vigour could have a massive impact on the future of beef breeding.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?
