Australia is the world largest exporter sheepmeat and beef. For further information about Australian lamb, mutton and beef exports to the Middle East, please see below:
Australian Lamb Exports
Lamb exports to the region have expanded substantially in the last five years. There was rapid growth initially, but this slowed due to economic difficulties in 2000 and 2001. Substantial growth resumed in 2002, with lamb shipments up 8%, to 10,000 tonnes.
There has been modest growth in exports to most markets of the region in recent years, due to increased consumer spending, despite the economic slowdown in 2001 and 2002, and bans on alternate suppliers. Dubai took 52% of exports to the region in 2002, with growth of 40%, to 5,435 tonnes. Shipments to Saudi Arabia also expanded a further 11%, to 2,520 tonnes, due to their general shortage of meat. This was despite the lifting of bans on Sudan and Syrian sheep and lamb imports, and the recent resumption of live sheep imports from Australia. Other growth markets in 2002 included Abu Dhabi (6%, to 1,685 tonnes). Exports also rose to almost all other markets in the region, except Jordan, which fell 76%, from 1,033 to only 248 tonnes.
The resurgence in chilled exports to the region, which began in 2001, gathered momentum in 2002, with a 30% rise to 4,600 tonnes (up 80% since 1998). This represented 46% of lamb shipments, up from 40% in 2001 and the low of 36% in 2000.
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Australian Mutton Exports
Sheepmeat is the preferred meat for the Arab populous of these countries, and is in strong demand for the expatriate workers from East Asian and African countries, who work in the oil fields, on construction sites or in the service industries. An estimated 80% of Australian mutton exports to the region are for the catering sector, with 15% for manufacturing and 5% sold through retail outlets.
Australian mutton is purchased in bulk, as a low valued protein product competing closely with manufacturing beef, poultry, buffalo and other cheap protein sources.
Saudi Arabia remained the dominant market in the region, taking 66% of exports to the Middle East, despite the 20% fall in 2002 (to 23,800 tonnes). Saudi Arabia has the largest population in the region and the most diverse expatriate worker base, plus the annual influx of a large number of visitors for the Haj religious pilgrimage.
The buoyant economic conditions and the absence of competition, which had boosted exports to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 2001, were replaced with weak economies and stronger competition in 2002. This competition came from Australian live sheep, the partial re-entry of African sheep and subsidised European beef, and increased South American beef. Hence, exports to both Saudi and Kuwait declined, offsetting some recovery in other markets in the region, particularly Oman, Qatar and Dubai.
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Australian Beef Exports
Australian exports to the Middle East weakened considerably during 2002, due to increased competition from frozen South American product. Consequently, shipments to the Middle East fell by 40%, to 5,920 tonnes sw in 2002, due mainly to the fall in frozen exports with chilled exports remaining consistent at 2,530 tonnes sw.
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Australian meat export data last updated 2 December 08.
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