Red meat sales for May increased 3% with growth recorded in nearly every market, according to the Meat Industry Association.
The association’s chief executive, Sirma Karapeeva, said New Zealand exported $1.1 billion of red meat for the month, 3% more than in May last year, with North America our largest market.
The result was led by beef with volumes 5% higher on a year earlier at 55,498 tonnes, which was worth 9% more at $524 million.
The United States took 17% more beef than May last year at 24,929t, which was worth 31% more at $261m. Exports to Canada also grew, up 177% to 2184t and increased in value by 197% to $20m.
The US was our most important red meat market in May, taking $358m worth of beef and sheep meat, an increase of 28%.
China was the second largest sheepmeat and beef market with exports of $232m, 42% down compared to last May.
Karapeeva said while China remains soft, exporters successfully shifted products to markets such as the US to extract the best value.
Sheepmeat exports for the month totalled 39,232t, 1% less than last May but a 5% drop in value to $387m mainly due to weakness in China where the sales were down 1% but the value fell 49%.
Karapeeva said this reflects weak demand rather than increased supply from other exporters such as Australia, where sheepmeat exports to China have been lower compared to last year.
Exports to most other major markets increased for May, with the US up 66% by volume to 3568t and 31% higher in value to $66m.
The volume of exports to the United Kingdom was 40% greater at 5392t and rose 34% in value to $51m while the European Union also took more volume, up 23% to 7085t and value, 15% higher at $113m.
The US had the highest free on board (FoB) value for sheepmeat at $18.39/kg, followed by the EU at $15.95/kg, the UK at $9.44/kg and China at $5.43/kg.
While US was our biggest beef market, Japan bought record volumes of beef for the month, taking 5533t, up 164%, with the value rising 151% to $55m.
Demand is being driven by high tourism numbers to Japan, with inbound visitors in April topping three million.
Beef volumes to China were down 33% to 14,387t and were 45% lower by value at $98m. The FoB value of beef exports to the US has steadily increased this year, from $8.33/kg in January to $10.48/kg in May.
Fifth quarter exports rose 6% for the month to $198m with the most significant change a 174% increase in the value of tallow exports worth $30m.
Almost 70% went to Singapore, where tallow is used as an ingredient in bio-fuel manufacturing.
