China ‘s potential to again reshape the Australian econmy—This time through food imports –has been highlighted by research showing shipments of red meat at a record level.
In the year to June, Australia shippped 162,139 tonnes of red meat to China—up 400per cent on the previous year.
Beef shipments reached 92,279 tonnes, while exports of sheep meat totalled 69,860 tonnes.included a fivefold increase in mutton sales to 35,867 tonnes.
Preliminary figures from the Australia bureau of statistics show the value of red meat shipped ti China was $664 million for the 11 months to May.
Shipments have sared from only 23,342 tonnes four years ago. They clocked in at 38,866 tonnes for the year to June 2012.
Meat land livestock Australia ,in a red meat market report on China, sai the surge in exports had been driven by the strong economy and growing population among other factors, It said higher personal incomes ,improving snfrastructure, rapid urbanisation, increasing demand ,tight supplies adnd food safetyconcerns were also dey drivers of growth.
Australia’s share of China’s beef imports rose from 38 per cent to 48 per cent in the year to June.