Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) support for international air-freight of Australian Red Meat to our global partners

01/04/2020

Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) supports the appointment of an International Freight Coordinator General and a $110 million dollar promise by the Australian government to fly Australian red meat to our global partners.

COVID-19 has presented significant logistical challenges for airfreight of Australian meat and livestock with limited outbound aircraft resulting in significant increases to airfreight charges.

“This announcement is of critical importance for Australia’s sheepmeat producers. Air freight represents a disproportionately high percentage for lamb and by extension sheepmeat, (almost 20%), due almost entirely to shelf life requirements in the Middle East.

It is not only vital for Australia’s exports, but provides food security for our trading partners.” says Stephen Crisp Acting CEO SPA.

Australia’s red meat is exported to over 100 markets by air and in 2019 the value of the exported meat and livestock air freight was worth in excess of AU$1.2billion.

“Our supply chains are crucial for both our domestic and global markets. Just over 50% of sheepmeat airfreights depart from Melbourne and around 35% from Perth. The number of options to that can be made available remain to be seen, but this announcement is a positive first step. This measure affects the entire sheep industry and will enable Australia to continue to fulfil our global responsibilities and support our sheepmeat producers.” says Mr Crisp.

SPA is part of Australia’s 80,000 business red meat and livestock supply chain to welcome the new package designed at providing our global protein markets much needed food security at this crucial time.

PDF Here: Air Freight for global markets 1 April 2020