Recent beef industry taskforce meetings re-emphasised the need to grow new and emerging markets for beef in light of Australia’s traditional markets enduring a prolonged economic downturn.
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MLA International Market and Economic Services general manager Peter Barnard said there were positive signs in markets such as Russia, the Middle East, South East Asia and China at a time Australia’s mature markets were struggling.
“While our long-term customers in Japan and the US continue to face economic adversity and decreased consumer confidence, and competition increasing in Korea, emerging markets are experiencing growth," he said.
"Conditions are ideal for us to ramp up our international marketing programs and capitalise on the opportunity to build and develop the profile of Australian beef in these markets."
Exports of Australian beef to Japan are down 3pc this year to date, due largely to the low US$ making US beef more competitive in that market.
The weakening of the US$ against the A$ has also seen volumes of Australian beef to the US decrease by 25pc.
“Russia has imported more than 38,000t of Australian beef in the year to date – a significant proportion of the export volume normally sold to the US," Dr Barnard said.
"This is not only due to currency but also reduced supplies from South America."
In the Middle East, Australian exports have grown from 4374t in 2007 to 15,753t in 2009.
The trend has continued in 2010, with exports for the first ten months of 2010 to the Middle East rising 59pc, to more than 19,000t.
Within the region, the Gulf Co-operation Council, comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, has undergone rapid economic growth due to high oil prices and increased demand for support services.
“In SE Asia and China, Australian beef exports to October 2010 are up by 4pc year on year, following a 35pc increase in 2009, with this export growth driven by demand in developing Asian markets such as Indonesia, China and the Philippines," Dr Barnard said.
"Total population in this region is estimated at 1.9 billion – 27pc of the world’s total population – and with income growth comes increased consumption of proteins including beef.”
Dr Barnard said Australia was well-positioned as a reputable, and in many cases a, long-term supplier across the region.
