Nice start, me old China
The Snapshot
- Australian live cattle exports to China for January 2022 were up 60% from January 2021, the strongest start to the year on record.
- Indonesia reported their lowest January figure since 2002 and is running 61% below the seasonal norm, according to the five-year average for January.
- Australian live cattle flows to Vietnam have taken a huge hit, starting 2022 at levels that are 91% under the five-year average for January.
The Detail
Live cattle exports from Australia to China have roared into life, posting a strong start to the year of the Tiger. Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment (DAWE) live cattle trade statistics for January 2022 show the largest monthly volumes to China since May 2020 and the strongest start to the year on record with 17,879 head of cattle reported exported.
The 2021 season started relatively strongly with 11,151 head transported, but this January numbers are up 60%, year on year. Current January volumes for Aussie live cattle to China are running 265% above the five-year average for the month of January.
Unfortunately, our other key live cattle destinations are starting 2022 in a more lacklustre fashion. Indonesia reported just 14,785 head of cattle from Australia in January, the lowest January figure since 2002. Compared to the five-year average pattern for January the flows to Indonesia a running 61% below the seasonal norm.
Vietnam slipped to the lowest January volumes on record with just 2,129 head transported. Australian live cattle flows to Vietnam have taken a huge hit, starting 2022 at levels that are 91% under the five-year average level usually seen during January.
Total January live cattle exports from Australia were reported at a meagre 40,648 head for the 2022 season, the weakest start to the live trade since 2002. Compared to the five-year trend the current volumes over January are nearly 48% below the seasonal average expected for January.
