Aussie Beef Plants Back in Business with China - Australia’s two last remaining beef processing plants delisted from the China export market have been re-added to the active trading list overnight.
The plants involved are Australian Country Choice at Cannon Hill in Brisbane (Est No 1620) and John Dee near Warwick in southern Queensland (Est No 243).
Both are large export processors with a strong orientation towards high-quality, high-value chilled beef, including Wagyu. Both perform serviced kills for other export beef supply chains and their own programs.
The plants were suspended in October 2021 and August 2020, respectively, during a period of political tension between Australia and China. Both suspensions are related to ‘regulatory matters.’
The re-listings, which appeared on China’s General Administration of Customs China (GACC) website list overnight, follow ongoing technical dialogue between the Australian Government and Chinese authorities.
The re-admission of John Dee and ACC means that all ten Australian beef export plants de-listed for China over the past four or five years are now free to trade again. Click here to view earlier story
In May this year, an additional five Australian beef plants previously suspended over labelling issues regained access to China. They included:
JBS Dinmore, Qld (Est. No 235 – Chilled & Frozen)
Northern Cooperative Meat Co, Casino NSW (Est. No 239 – Chilled & Frozen)
Kilcoy Global Foods, Kilcoy Qld (Est. No 640 – Chilled & Frozen):
JBS Beef City, Toowoomba Qld (Est. No 170 – Frozen only)
Meramist, Caboolture Qld (Est. No 416 – Frozen only).
Before that, another three plants were suspended over COVID-related matters, all now re-admitted.
Australian Country Choice managing director Anthony Lee said his company welcomed the decision by the Chinese authorities to return its export licence.
“We thank the Australian Government for its support in achieving this outcome, and we anticipate the resumption of mutually beneficial trade links,” Mr Lee said.
The overnight developments do not include a string of beef export plants that have not previously held China access but wish to do so. Thomas Foods International’s new Murray Bridge facility is one of those.
China access is a considerable issue for export beef processing profitability, providing the broadest possible range of market outlets for muscle meat, trimmings, and some offals. Year to date, China has taken around 157,000 tonnes of Australian beef and considerable volumes of offal, down 11 percent on the same period last year.
As often occurs, Chinese authorities have issued no comment on the latest re-listings, but their access status on the GACC website simply changed overnight to ‘active.’
AMIC welcomes China export approval reinstatements
The Australian Meat Industry Council has welcomed the reinstatement of export approvals for the remaining two Australian processors, which had been suspended from trade with China.
This outcome now represents a full reinstatement of trade for all Australian meat processors which had been suspended from China.
AMIC Interim CEO Tim Ryan said the outcome was the result of four years of cooperative and sustained effort by government and industry.
“We have worked tirelessly, to advocate for reinstated and improved access for Australian processors, via engagement with government as well as our industry partners in China,” he said.
“After four years of hard work on behalf of red meat exporters, this is a fantastic and very welcome result.”
Mr Ryan noted the significant technical work carried out by the affected businesses and the Department of Agriculture which was critical in providing assurance to Chinese authorities that Chinese requirements are met.
“We are also thankful to the Australian Government including Prime Minister Albanese, Agriculture Ministers Collins and Watt, and Trade Minister Farrell for their work in nurturing a collaborative bilateral relationship and assisting these businesses to regain their access to this incredibly important market,” he said.
“This is a great outcome not only for these companies but the clients they process for as well as the thousands of farmers and feedlots they support through the cattle they purchase.
“Australian meat processors and exporters are committed to providing consumers with reliable supply and the highest levels of assurance. This result demonstrates the strength of the Australian meat industry’s quality assurance and regulatory systems to help further expand access for Australian meat processors who wish to trade with China over a wide variety of approved products.”
Cattle Australia welcomes regained China access
Cattle Australia has welcomed China’s reinstatement of export approvals for the remaining two Australian beef export processing plants, which were suspended from supplying product to China in 2020 and 2021.
CA chief executive officer Dr Chris Parker said the change was a win not only for the respective processing plants, but also the producers and lot feeders who supply these facilities.
“The re-establishment of export approval for these two plants is the result of extensive negotiations by industry advocacy groups and the Federal Government, and we applaud the efforts of Australian Government Ministers and the Department of Agriculture to achieve this most recent outcome,” Dr Parker said.
“As a net exporter of products, our industry relies on ensuring productive technical discussions can take place, in an effort to strengthen ties with current trading partners and foster relationships with new customers.
“We look forward to ongoing conversations with China and other nations, as we continue to share Australia’s world-leading beef with consumers across the globe.”
Final Chinese trade impediments on red meat establishments lifted
The Federal Government issued this statement:
The Federal Government welcomes China lifting the remaining suspensions on two Australian meat processing establishments, paving the way for full resumption of red meat exports to China.
This development follows the lifting of suspensions on eight beef processing facilities in May this year.
The Government has consistently advocated for the final two establishments in Queensland to be able to resume exports into China.
China is the second largest market for Australian beef and veal after the United States. The removal today of the final two suspensions marks a return to business as usual for beef and veal exports, which topped $2.2 billion in 2023-24.
Today’s announcement follows forecasts that Australia’s red meat exports are set to break records in 2024–25.
The boost of red meat exports is forecast to push the overall value of agriculture, fisheries and forestry to $94.3 billion, the second highest on record, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this was great news for Australian exporters, producers and farmers.
“It’s a win for trade and a win for Australian jobs,” he said.
Minister for Trade Don Farrell said Australia was close to the point where China’s trade impediments which impacted $20 billion worth of Australian exports have all been removed.
“The removal of trade impediments has not only saved, but also created thousands of new jobs in Australia,” he said.
“Beef producers in Queensland, wine makers in South Australia, and barley growers in Western Australia, have all benefited from this Government’s steady hand on the trade tiller.”
Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins thanked our red meat industry and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officials who had worked so hard to get this outcome.
“Concerted engagement and advocacy with our largest trading partner have been rewarded with the lifting of suspensions on all Australian meat export facilities in the past 12 months.
“In 2023-24, Australia exported more than 70 per cent of its agricultural, fisheries and forestry production to 169 markets globally – the most diversified trade has ever been.”
Great news for the Australian beef industry.