MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3154, 25 February 1911, Page 2

MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

WEDDEL’S ANNUAL REVIEW. ' OUTLOOK FOR 1911. In a retrospect of the frozen meat industry for 1910, a copy of which is to hand hy-this week’s mail, W. YVeddel and' Co. Limited, of London, give detailed information of an interesting character. The trade, it is state,d, participated fully in flic exceptionally good conditions prevailing in the United Kingdom, and presented a welcome contrast to the experiences of the previous year, the business record making 1910 rank as one of the best years in the history of the trade. Importations of frozen and chilled meats into the United Kingdom attained an unprecedented; total, the aggregate deliveries weighing no less than -610,970 tons, an increase of 78,714 tons, or 15 per cent., over the totaL for 1909, which in its turn had exceded its predecessor by 46,280’ tons, or 10 per cent. The total supply of beef available from all sources for comsumption in the United Kingdom during 1910 was 1,209,208 tons,, and of mutton and lamb 604,212 tons, representing 59.71 - of the former, and 29.81 b. of the latter per head qf the population. These quantities were composed of home grown meat to the extent of 61.8 per cent., frozen meats 24.9 per cent., chilled beef 8.81 per cent., with 4.5 per cent, of foreign live cattle and sheep and fresh killed' meat. The quantities of home and imported beef, mutton and lamb available for consumption in the United Kingdom during 1910 aggregated 1,813,420 tons, as against 1,777,253 tons in 1909. Of that weight, the home supply was estimated at 1,121,760 tons in 1910, afi compared with 1,128,600 tons in 1900; the beef, mutton and lamb imported, either alive, frozen or chilled, weighing approximately 691,660 tons, as against 648,653 tons in 9109. The most striking increase in arrivals was from Australia, viz:—52.539 tons, beyond the 1909 total; while New Zealand contributed 10,2.31 tons more than in 1909. There was a decrease of 9061 tons in frozen meats, but an increase of 4.4,206 tons in chilled beef from I South America.

The total receipts cf frozen mutton were 7,552,977 carcases, as compared with 5,915,455 carcases in 1909, an increase of 1,637,522 carcases, or 27.7 per cent. The most noteworthy expansion was witnessed from Australia, viz.: 1,396,007 carcases, alongside which the addition of 121,516 carcases from New Zealand and 119,999 carcases from all South American sources appears insignificant. Although arrivals from Australia totalled 2,723,148 carcases, being an increase of 105 per cent, over 1909, and 335 per cent, over 198, the review states that reduced supplies of New Zealand and South American sheep during the early months of the year admitted of the satisfactory sale of these unexpectedly heavy importations from Australia. During the first three months of the year (top) prices averaged about 3}d. per 11)., rising in April to 3gd.; with the exception of a temporary rise in June, they fell quickly to 2|d. in July, which proved to be the lowest point of the year, the level of prices subsequently being maintained at about 3jd. New Zealand importations of mutton amounted to 1,901,115 carcases, an increase of only 6.5 per cent., and South American supplies from all sources aggregated 2.838,714 carcases, an increase of 119,999, or only 4.4 per cent over 1909. Arrivals of lamb from Australia reached a total of 1,486.660 carcases as compared with 1,351.697 in A 909. A good consumptive demand fftrpt pace with supplies especially in the case of prime quality, right through the 1909-1910 season, and .prices gradually rose, and' wore well maintained until July. During that month values fell again somewhat sharply, but subsequently recovered until they touched s*d- per lb. The importations from New Zealand aggregated 3,416.359 carcases, as against 3,165,504 in 1909. and in South America after two successive years of expansion, the year witnessed a falling off in supply, arrivals being only 5.15,048 carcases, as compared with 634,496 during 1909. Importations of frozen beef from Australia rose to 537,442 quarters, that total .comparing with, the 269,588 quarters of 1909, and 75,800 quarters of 180 S. This increase, wa.s, however, accompanied by some falling off in quality. Fortunately despite the violent fluctuations to which quotations were subjected during the year, these yielded on average better prices than those secured in 1909. Now Zealand arrivals were 344,04 S quarters, as against 297,328 quarters in 1809. The rapidly changing statistical position resulted ip unusually violent fluctuations in prices. Fores rose to 4jjd per lb. in June, but a month later had dropped no less than 2d. per lb., moving thereafter between 2|d. and 2fd. per lb. Hinds in June similarly touched the record price of the year, viz., 54c1. per ib. followed by a sharp fall to 3gd. in July, which in its turn was succeeded by a moderate range of fluctuations between 3£-d and 3£d: per lb. The 101,262 tons of Australasian frozen meat and 122,287 tons of South American frozen and chilled meats dealt with at Smithfield in 1910. represented together 53 per cent, of the total weight (419,950 tons) of meat of all kinds (including pork, rabbits and poultry! marketed there during the year. In other words (if the North American imports bo included), 3 lb out of every 4 lb of the beef, mutton and lamb now sold at Smithfield is imported as frozen or chilled meat.

Regarding the chilled beef received during the year from Australia, the review' mentions that, aided by the Linley process, chilled beef can be brought from Australia or New Zealand to this market, and delivered', after a 70 days’ voyage, in good condition. The shipments arrived in April, August and December. the beef realising on average Ojjcl. per lb above the prices of those same rates current for Australian frozen meat of similar quality. Until arrangements can be made for quicker transit and larger shipments, this new trade cannot be considered to be satisfactorily equipped from the point of view of the Australian shipper.” A noticeable feature in this branch of the industry, to which attention is drawn, was the remarkable expansion in Argentina. “In 1906 this new source of supply furnished 37,000 tons, or one-fourth of the total import:, in 1908 it supplied 03,000 tons, or one-half; and in 1910' it sent 135.500 tons, or seven-eighths of the Avliolo.” The year also witnessed a further large decrease in the supply of chilled beef from the United States, arrivals thence amounting to onlv 23.857 tons,, as compared with 42,840 tons in 1909, and 71.607 tons in 1908.

Regarding the outlook for 1911, the review remarks respecting Australian exports of meat : “The increase in receipts anticipated a year ago exceeded expectations, hut there is a fair prospect of further expansion during 1911. It is hoped that the proportions of ordinary and plain quality beef, mutton and lamb will not be larger than in recent years, and the succession of favorable seasons now being enjoyed must 'certainly tend to raise the general standard of •shipments.”

In conclusion, it is suggested That the general trade conditinos in the united Kingdom are so excellent that an unproved consumptive demand for all hinds of foodstulfs seems to be assured —at least for some months ahead, if rozen meat of all kinds may be expected to participate to the full in. any suen improvement; and as stocks in store are moderate, even the heavier shipments in sight should not offer any serious barrier to the maintenance of prices at a level as satisfactory as that of 1910.