Turkey beats Meat Bd in Iraq lamb sale

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 11

Turkey beats Meat Bd in Iraq lamb sale

PA Wellington The Meat Board has been beaten by Turkey in its bid for an Iraq larrib contract, meat industry sources have confirmed. A Meat Board spokesman said the contract, for 9000 tonnes, was substantial, and that the amount would actually have been for about 18.000 tonnes. The spokesman said it was difficult to know how the Iraquis would look at future business. “They have been purchasing within arrangements which are not normal for that market," he said. “We will continue to persevere, but we are unlikely to have the opportunity to supply until later in the year." The meat industry had

hoped the Iraq lamb export 'market would revive this year after collapsing last year. Last year Iraq bought no lamb from New Zealand, but the year before it took nearly 30,000 tonnes, worth $7O million. Earlier this year industry sources had safd it was reasonable to expect the sale to Iraq to go ahead. Iraq's withdrawal from the market last year, plus a reduced delayed sale to Iran, helped trigger the marketing crisis which ended in the Meat Board's taking control of the lamb export trade. Iran has already said it will take at least 10,000 tonnes of lamb this year, and the Iraq contract would have given the industry an extra boost.