Australia reports increased meat sales in retail
Retail sales of meat have increased by 20% in Australia in the first three months and a half of the year, reports MLA. As foodservice channels slow, demand for meat through retail, particularly online, has lifted, as more consumers are forced to eat more meals at home. More than 130,000 new households have been reported adding beef in their shopping list. Demand has been strongest for staple items such as mince and sausages, which were key contributors to recent spikes in fresh meat sales in the domestic market.
A shift to ‘localism’ has also occurred as more Australians are buying food and drinks from local businesses out of convenience and to ‘support local’. This has contributed to domestic butcher sales surging by about 39% for beef in the period mentioned.
On the other hand, red meat exports in April have been shaped by COVID-19 as global markets continue to be impacted. Australian beef exports in April totaled 92,476 tonnes swt, 6% lower than a year earlier. Lamb exports also fell by 18% in April year-on-year, reaching 22,643 swt. The sector has been confronted with a significant drop in sales at foodservice in most global markets, creating carcase imbalances. Typically, higher value loin cuts make their way into foodservice, balancing out the overall value of the carcase for Australian processors. With loin sales down, it will remain a constant challenge for the industry to move the entire carcase while minimizing the impact to overall value of the carcase.
For the months to come, export markets will remain under the sign of uncertainty as inconsistent supply and shifting demand will maintain an unpredictable global competitive landscape.
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