Australian Meat Exports Falter in April

SYDNEY - May 3/06 - SNS -- Australian beef and veal exports fell 17% below year earlier levels in April, according to According to figures released by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Clearances during the month totalled 69,400 metric tons (MT). Despite this large fall, shipments for the first four months of the year were only down 3% on the same period last year, at 275,400 MT.

Analyzing the data, Meat and Livestock Australia Limited found beef shipments to Japan totalled 30,000 MT, down 21% from the same month last year.

Following record Australian beef exports during March, Japanese importers eased purchases during April so Golden Week sales could be gauged and remaining stocks determined. During the first four months of 2006, exports to Japan were down 9% on the same period last year, to 124,200 MT.

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