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Australia commits funding to showcase beef exports

30 Jul 2013

Australia has committed funding to a major event set to showcase the nation’s A$7.4 billion cattle industry to international markets.

The Government has earmarked $2.5 million in funding for the Beef Australia expo, to be held in Rockhampton, Queensland in May 2015, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said in a joint statement.

“The expo is the largest and most significant cattle industry event in the country and will benefit many of the 184,000 Australians employed in agriculture and meat processing by promoting our cattle and industry technology on the international stage”, the Government said in the statement.

Beef Australia was last held in 2012, when it drew a record 85,000 people, including delegates from 35 countries.

In 2012-13, Australia’s beef and live cattle export market was worth an estimated A$5.2 billion.

The Government has focused on boosting exports to Asia, with a $60 million funding package to build the meat supply chain and improve long-term trade and investment opportunities between Australia and Indonesia.

Recent Government data showed the nation’s red meat exports in May reached a record high volume of 103,200 tonnes, largely on the back of robust demand from China.

Meat and Livestock Australia has said it expects record Australian beef exports this year of more than 1 million tonnes.