Underpinning the increase in beef shipments to China was stronger demand for brisket during November, rising to 1,772 tonnes swt.
With briskets a popular cut for winter dishes in China, such as slow cooked stew and hot pot, higher seasonal demand combined with reportedly tight supplies and rising prices of domestically produced beef assisted to increase brisket exports to China during November.
Shin/shank and manufacturing beef shipments also increased during November, to 1,390 tonnes swt (up 704% year-on-year) and 1,250 tonnes swt (up 236% year-on-year), respectively.
The majority of product shipped to China during November was frozen grassfed beef - accounting for 88% of the total shipments during the month (6,973 tonnes swt).
Lamb shipments to China during November lifted 61% year-on-year, to a record 3,301 tonnes swt, with the total shipments for the first eleven months of 2012 rising to 26,641 tonnes swt, up 37% compared to the corresponding period of last year (19,442 tonnes swt).
Mutton exports during November also rose, surging 302% year-on-year, to 3,053 tonnes swt.
Total mutton exports for the first eleven months reached 11,916 tonnes swt, increasing 167% on the same period last year.
Demand for sheepmeat breast & flap and manufacturing meat continued to be strong during November, with export volumes increasing to 3,120 tonnes swt (up 50% year-on-year) and 721 tonnes swt (up 53% year-on-year), respectively.
Shipments of lamb shoulder during November jumped to 724 tonnes swt, up from only 32 tonnes swt in November 2011.
