MEAT EXPORTS

Northern Advocate, 20 June 1925, Page 6

MEAT EXPORTS

CONTINENTAL MARKETS.

PROSPECTS IN BELGIUM.

The New Zealand Meat Producers Board has recently received the following report from its representative on the Continent regarding Belgium's meat imports for 1924: —

"Imports of frozen meat for 1924 totalled about 110,000 tons, of which 15,000 tons passed through Belgium l in transit,' the net imports being 95,000 tons, against 70,000 tons in 1923. About 90 per cent came from Argentina aiid Uruguay, the small balance being principally from Australia and Brazil. As usual the arrivals consisted mainly of beef, the quantity of mutton imported amounting to only 800 tons, as compared with 360 tons in 1923.

"Arrivals in the spring were so heavy that a crisis occurred both in available insulated transport and storage, leading to heavy reductions in wholesale and retail prices. Trading losses by buyers were general, and had it not been for the considerable improvement in values which commenced in the early autumn, the year would have closed with disastrous results for some of the importers. Thanks to the recovery, the end of the year finds the Belgian frozen meat trade in a flourishing condition and anticipating further progress in 1925. A considerable advance has been made in the amount of insulated raihvay transport available, of which there should now be sufficient to cover all probable requirements. "There was a heavy drop in imports of live cattle. As against about 57,000 head in 1923, only some 9000 head entered in 1924, of which 6500 came from •Holland. The French Government prohibited the export of cattle from France; partly exchange difficulties and partly foot-and-mouth disease cut down imports from Holland; high exchange prevented cattle coming from Denmark, and the foot-and-mouth disease ban is still iaid upon live cattle from Argentina. Live sheep and lambs were imported to an extent of about 10,500 head, against 20,000 in 1923, and 43,000 in 1922. Some 4000 of the total mentioned came from Uruguay. The local flocks and herds are in an almost stationary condition. Cattle have increased to 1,700,000 and bre multiplying very slowly, owing to the continued heavy slaughter of calves. Sheep number about 150,000 head only, and show almost no increase since 1921. Pigs show a considerable increase at 1,450,000 against 1,176,000 in 1923. . Goats increase slowly and now total about'24o,ooo head."