CHINA is starting to beef up its meat imports in a major way.
Figures released last week by Meat and Livestock Australia last week show China imported record amounts of beef, mutton and lamb last month as demand for Australian protein skyrockets.
It was a stellar month for Australian meat sales to China, which took 3301 tonnes of lamb, 3053 tonnes of sheepmeat and 7955 tonnes of beef. It represents rises of 729 per cent for beef, 61 per cent for lamb and 50 per cent for mutton.
But the beef demand is focused on lower-value cuts, including brisket, shins and shanks.
Frozen grass-fed beef dominated exports, accounting for 88 per cent of all beef sold.
It was also a big month for lamb exports, and November''s record exports lifted the total to 26,641 tonnes for the year, up 37 per cent on the January-November period last year.
Mutton exports, which also set a new high, hinged around breast, flap and manufacturing grades.An MLA spokesman said the increase in beef sales was due to tightening domestic beef supplies.
"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," he said.
Australian Processors Council chairman David Larkin said the strength of exports to China showed it was an "extremely important market".
Mr Larkin said the rise was partly to do with China now buying direct from Australia, rather than going through other countries.
But increasing disposable income was also driving up demand for Australian protein.
"Chinese income is rising and they want to buy good food," Mr Larkin said.
"It''s not only the lower-value cuts, though - the market used to be split between the very top end and the lower grades but China has also been buying a lot of high-quality beef."
Mr Larkin said it was important for the meat industry to look after China.
"You would have to think that this is a good market for exports.
"And farmers are in a good position to sell if they have demand for the product," Mr Larkin said.
"We are positioning Australia as a food supplier to the world, and China is an extremely important part of this."''