Record high returns for meat

Analysis by Beef + Lamb New Zealand's (B+LNZ) Economic Service shows it was a positive year to Septembr 30 for beef, veal, lamb and mutton exports, despite the high New Zealand dollar.

B+LNZ chief economist Andrew Burtt says that, for the second season in a row, North Asia was the largest market region for New Zealand meat exports, accounting for 31% of total returns, while the European Union (EU) and North America remained the primary markets for lamb and beef/veal, respectively.

"The amount of lamb exported was down 3%, reflecting last season's smaller lamb crop, but total returns were up 9.5% to $2.52 billion. That's because the average per tonne value of lamb being exported rose 13% – to $8,300, compared to $7,400 in 2012-13.

Burtt says the EU accounted for 48% of lamb returns in the 2013-14 season. "North Asia was the second largest market destination for New Zealand lamb, at 34% by volume, but average returns were well below those achieved in the EU, reflecting the different product mixes exported to the two regions. For the season just concluded, the average per tonne return for North Asia was $6,000, compared to $10,200 for the EU," Burtt says.

Ninety-four per cent of lamb exports were further processed, while 22% were chilled product.

The 2013-14 year was New Zealand's second largest mutton export season, at 93,000 tonnes – up 11% on last season – mainly due to land use switching to dairying.

It was also the second largest beef and veal export season in history – 383,000 tonnes – as a result of high beef production and an increased number of dairy cows processed.

"Total beef and veal returns were up 8.4% to $2.29 billion, while the average value was up 2.1% to $6,000 per tonne. North America accounted for 48% of beef and veal returns, while North Asia accounted for 30%."