Cheese exports declined

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 3

Cheese exports declined

PA Wellington The Dairy Board has had to turn down a request from Japan for a huge increase in New Zealand cheese exports, but denies reports that this will lead to a "loss of face” in Japan. Japan, which is New Zealand's biggest cheese export market, has asked for an extra 13,000 tonnes of cheese; to meet the shortage caused by a cut in Australian exports,. from 27,000 tonnes last year to 14,000 tonnes this year, as a result of the crippling-drought. Because the Dairy Board was unable to meet the request Japan placed the

orders with European Economic Community suppliers. A Dairv Board spokesman, Mr N. Martin, said yesterday that the board knew that Australian production was down, but it could not have reasonably predicted a drop of 13,000 tonnes. . “We would not be doing our job properly if we had 13.000 tonnes of cheese in store waiting just in case someone wanted it,” he said. "Cheese is a very age-sensi-tive product .which cannot be stored for long periods on the .off-chance that someone might want it. "If we had had any kind of reasonable lead time we

could have met the Japanese request. "It didn’t invole any loss of face, any more than . Japan would lose face if New Zealand were to turn around and ask Toyota for 100.000 land cruisers by September.” Board produce was already earmarked, he said. There - was no evidence that New Zealand's failure to supply the extra cheese had strengthened the Japanese dairy industry's arguments for a proposed 10,000 tonne cheese factory in Japan. There was also no indication that Australia’s withdrawal from the market would be permanent.