Australian red meat sales in the Middle East increased by 22 per cent in the second quarter this year, a report said.
The sales reached 22,838 tonnes compared to 16,401 tonnes consumed
during the same period in 2007, according to the latest report issued
by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the international marketing
arm of Australian meat and livestock exporters.
The report showed that growth occurred across the full range of Australian red meat products.
Lamb sales totaled 6,542 tonnes in this year’s Q2, a 17.4 per cent
jump compared to the 4,946 tonnes sold in the respective period last
year.
Sales of Australian mutton products achieved a 36 per cent increase,
growing from 10,000 tonnes in Q2 of 2007 to 13,650 tonnes in the same
quarter of 2008.
Australian beef and veal sales recorded a stunning 234 per cent
increase, as sales grew sharply from 793 tonnes in Q2 of 2007 to 2,646
tonnes in the second quarter this year. Compared to Q1 of this year,
beef and veal products sales have increased by 275 tons, scoring an
11.6 per cent increase.
During the first half of the year Aussie lamb and mutton products
recorded a 14 per cent increase in comparison to the same period of
2007, as sales increased from 10.518 tonnes to 11,983 tonnes and from
26,372 to 30,185, respectively. Beef and veal products outperformed
other meat categories as sales soared from 1,626 to 5,018 tonnes,
marking a 209 per cent increase, it said.
Overall, sales of Australian red meat products totaled 47,266 tonnes
in the first half of 2008 compared to 38,516 tons in the same period of
last year – a 22.71 per cent increase.
Commenting on Q2 results, Ian Ross, MLA regional manager – MEA
Region, said: “The increase in sales of various Australian red meat
products in the Middle East market reflects the great consumer
confidence for Australia’s food safety systems, animal health and
welfare and the integrity of the Australian halal system.
“These impressive results were also partially due to the fact that,
contrary to prevailing economic conditions of rising costs and high
inflation, Australian red meat products have managed to keep reasonably
stable prices in Middle East markets,” he added. – TradeArabia News Service
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