Beef exports hit $3 billion in record season

Beef exports hit $3 billion in record season – Media release

24 September

The value of total goods exported was $3.7 billion in August 2015, up $197 million (5.6 percent) compared with August 2014, Statistics New Zealand said today. Meat and fruit exports led the rise.

Beef exports continued to rise, up 46 percent ($61 million) in August 2015 compared with the same month last year. The beef export season runs from 1 October to 30 September.

“With one month to go in the 2014/15 beef export season, beef exports are at a new high of $3 billion,” international statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said. “So far this season, 404,000 tonnes of beef have been exported, and if we export at least 18,000 tonnes next month we'll surpass the peak 2003/04 season for quantity exported.”

The United States remains our top beef export destination this season, for both value and quantity. Beef export values to the US have hit a record high of $1.6 billion (up 64 percent) for the season to date, with quantities up 21 percent compared with this time last year.

Beef export values to China continued to increase, up 88 percent for the season to date, to $394 million, with quantities up 52 percent compared with this time last year.

“International shortages, rising production, and a falling New Zealand dollar have contributed to this record beef season,” Mr Attewell said.

Ends

For more information about these statistics:
• Visit Overseas Merchandise Trade: August 2015
• Open the attached files
OverseasMerchandiseTradeAug15.pdf
omtAug15tables.xls

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