New Zealand meat exports reached $10 billion last year, up 9% from the previous year.
A new analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA) shows the country’s meat sector set a new record for exports in 2021.
The sector’s exports reached $10 billion last year, despite the disruption caused by covid-19. The exports represented a 9% lift on 2020.
The value of red meat and co-products exported in December 2021 was also up 22% year on year, at just over $1b.
Both sheepmeat and beef exports increased by 5% and 9% year-on-year respectively, with both worth more than $4b for the year. Co-products exports also increased by 19% to almost $2b.
MIA chief executive Sirma Karapeeva said the sector had worked tirelessly in the face of ongoing global logistical challenges to continue to achieve the best possible results for farmers, the 25,000 people working in the industry and for the New Zealand economy.
“Despite all the disruptions and labour shortages, we were able to make the most of the global demand for red meat and generate record export revenue,” Karapeeva said.
“The sector is continuing to perform for New Zealand in the most difficult conditions. However, supply chain challenges will significantly disrupt exports for some time to come and we do not yet know what impact that will have on the Easter chilled trade.”
Red meat exporters have responded swiftly to adapt to rapidly-changing logistics environments – for instance, by converting chilled product to frozen, when needed, to address risks in the disrupted supply chain, she said.
While chilled sheepmeat exports to the UK dropped by 42% in December, to the lowest volume in 25 years, frozen sheepmeat exports to the UK increased by 95%.
She said that while there has been some softening in Chinese demand for sheepmeat from the previous high levels, prices in China have remained strong.
Overall, sheepmeat export volumes to China dropped by 15% in the fourth quarter. However, the value of sheepmeat exports to China increased by 3% in the same period.
China remained the largest overall importer for that quarter at 41%, followed by the US (20%), the UK (4%) and Japan (4%).
While overall sheepmeat markets were down 8% by volume for the quarter, they increased by 17% in value. Sheepmeat volumes to China and the UK dropped by 15% and 6% respectively.
However, there were increases in a number of markets including the US (+15%), the Netherlands (+59%) and France (+34%).
China was the largest beef export market, followed by the US and Japan. Beef export volumes to China were the same as the final quarter of 2020, at 46% of total, but increased 33% by value.
Exports to the US dropped by 15% by volume but increased by 16%in value. Exports to Japan remained the same at 7% of volume but grew 39% by value.
