India’s meat exports

[Hindustani78]

Rising stakes | Frontline

Print edition : July 24, 2015
India’s meat exports, which bring in significant revenue every year, have been on an uptrend in recent years, with beef accounting for a large chunk of the trade. By RAMESH CHAKRAPANI


India’s meat exports surged ahead in the financial year ended March, crossing Rs 30,000 crore and continuing an uptrend seen over the past five financial years—a period of remarkable rates of growth—according to data from the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The vast majority of the meat that leaves Indian ports for export destinations ranging from Africa to West Asia to Baltic countries is beef, with sheep and goats accounting for a minor chunk, which has also been growing at a healthy pace.

The biggest moneyspinner among all meat export categories is frozen, boneless beef, with the major markets being Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Thailand and Saudi Arabia, while Algeria, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates figure among the minor destinations.

Revenues from the exports of frozen, boneless beef touched Rs 28,027.23 crore in 2014-15, compared with Rs 8,508.93 crore in 2010-11, a jump of 229 per cent.

Figures for the latest year show that Vietnam accounted for 45.50 per cent of this category, bringing in Rs 12,748.29 crore. Interestingly, Vietnam accounted for only 14.76 per cent in 2010-11.

From a regional perspective, Asia was the largest market for frozen boneless beef, earning Rs 22,743.01 crore in 2014-15, growing 11.54 per cent from the previous year, and zooming 267 per cent from 6,189.28.94 crore in 2010-11.

Demand from Africa has been steadily rising, more than doubling from Rs 2,022.20 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 4,535.70 crore in 2014-15, while the Baltic region’s appetite for Indian beef has been growing at a healthy rate, from Rs 280.13 crore in 2010-11 to Rs 723.80 crore in 2014-15.

Along with boneless beef, frozen edible bovine offal also contributed significantly to the overall beef export market, accounting for receipts of Rs 702.53 crore in 2014-15, jumping a massive 18 times from just Rs 38.34 crore in 2010-2011. (Offal refers to the internal organs and entrails of a butchered animal.)

The category of bovine meat, fresh or chilled, accounted for Rs 474.83 crore in 2014-15, marking a near-tenfold increase from Rs 49.57 crore registered in 2010-2011.

Sheep meat, a favourite among Islamic nations, brought in Rs 785 crore in 2014-15, the bulk of it from fresh or chilled meat (Rs 627.75 crore) and the rest frozen meat (Rs 157.50 crore). The figure is a huge improvement from barely Rs 222 crore just five years back.

A little-known fact is that the country also exports several crore worth of live goats every year, with the amount for the fiscal ended March hitting Rs 68.01 crore, compared with Rs 50.87 crore in 2010-11.

The United States-based Beef Magazine, which tracks the global beef production and export industry, reported that India was the world’s third largest exporter by volume in the 2014 calendar year—behind Brazil and top-ranked Australia—clocking 1.36 million tonnes during the January-November period, a growth of 17 per cent over the previous year.

According to the magazine, the value of Indian exports per kilogram is only $3.21, compared to Brazil's $4.72, Australia's $5.30 and Canada's $5.61. Most of the beef that India exports is water buffalo meat, also known as carabeef.

As an industry that brings in higher revenues with every passing year amid healthy and widespread global demand, especially for beef, meat exports ought to be encouraged. Unfortunately, the government is only hindering its growth by banning slaughter in certain States and forcing the closure of abattoirs.

 

[P.K.]

Bhaiya Hindutani, If something is against the sensitivities of majority of its citizens then it is better to avoid it, instead of using logic and promote it.

 

[dray]

Bhaiya Hindutani, If something is against the sensitivities of majority of its citizens then it is better to avoid it, instead of using logic and promote it.

What will you say if all Muslim and Christian majority countries ban Hindus from entering their country using the same logic? Hinduism and its practices surely stands against the rigid explanation of Abrahamic religions!

 

[P.K.]

What will you say if all Muslim and Christian majority countries ban Hindus from entering their country using the same logic? Hinduism and its practices surely stands against the rigid explanation of Abrahamic religions!

Go back 2-3 hundred years in history.
Remember how North Indians Hindus were forcefully converted.
How African slaves were bought and sold in Europe and America.
How Brits were ruling half of the world.

With the passage of time the world is recognizing New Values and changing rapidly. My only submissions is just as decision of majority of citizens should be respected in a democracy similarly sensitivities of majority of citizens should be respected.

Banning of Hindus from Muslim or Christian dominated countries is their prerogative and these countries can certainly pass such laws ( though they may incur the wrath of many U.N. and human rights groups ) But such laws will again be like those which the world has been rejecting over last few centuries.

 

[dray]

Go back 2-3 hundred years in history.
Remember how North Indians Hindus were forcefully converted.
How African slaves were bought and sold in Europe and America.
How Brits were ruling half of the world.

With the passage of time the world is recognizing New Values and changing rapidly. My only submissions is just as decision of majority of citizens should be respected in a democracy similarly sensitivities of majority of citizens should be respected.

Banning of Hindus from Muslim or Christian dominated countries is their prerogative and these countries can certainly pass such laws ( though they may incur the wrath of many U.N. and human rights groups ) But such laws will again be like those which the world has been rejecting over last few centuries.

So, the idea is not to go back 2-3 hundred years in history.

 

[P.K.]

So, the idea is not to go back 2-3 hundred years in history.

Exactly !!!

And with the passage of time, either conservative Hindus will start accepting eating beef a norm or rest of the world start agreeing with this practice of avoiding beef for some scientific reasons.

Whats the hurry ?

 

[Omega007]

Bhaiya Hindutani, If something is against the sensitivities of majority of its citizens then it is better to avoid it, instead of using logic and promote it.

And in the meanwhile freedom of choice be damned !!Why couldn't I think of it earlier I wonder.

 

[Manindra]

And in the meanwhile freedom of choice be damned !!Why couldn't I think of it earlier I wonder.

His username P.K. is for namesake only

 

[Omega007]

His username P.K. is for namesake only

Bilkul fateh ki baat kiya hai bhai mere.

 

[dray]

Exactly !!!

And with the passage of time, either conservative Hindus will start accepting eating beef a norm or rest of the world start agreeing with this practice of avoiding beef for some scientific reasons.

Whats the hurry ?

Who will eat beef and who will not is a matter of personal preference, and it should remain like that only. I don't see any such revolution on 'beefism' coming in next thousand years where the whole world will be either beef-eaters or vice versa.

 

[P.K.]

Who will eat beef and who will not is a matter of personal preference, and it should remain like that only. I don't see any such revolution on 'beefism' coming in next thousand years where the whole world will be either beef-eaters or vice versa.

No, It won't take that long. You know Indians go to Bangkok and Las Vegas to satisfy their personal preferences of stuff banned in certain part of this Country.

And in the meanwhile freedom of choice be damned !!Why couldn't I think of it earlier I wonder.

you didn't think of this earlier because you are not living under the rule of ISIS and can eat beef/pork. Just ask any female living under ISIS rule, what freedom of choice means to her.

 

[dray]

No, It won't take that long. You know Indians go to Bangkok and Las Vegas to satisfy their personal preferences of stuff banned in certain part of this Country.

you didn't think of this earlier because you are not living under the rule of ISIS and can eat beef/pork. Just ask any female living under ISIS rule, what freedom of choice means to her.

So you think we will turn into a fascist country or a rouge like ISIS soon? I disagree.

 

[Gujrat Media]

Indian gov need more

 

[P.K.]

So you think we will turn into a fascist country or a rouge like ISIS soon? I disagree.

Not at all bro, I was just replying to a member about freedom of choice.

It would have been better had I told him that he can't enjoy the freedom of a Swedish Nudist Beach on Juhu Beach.

 

[Hindustani78]

Multi-billion dollar buffalo meat trade, with exports falling in the last six months as traders run short of supplies and China lifts purchases from Brazil.

the exporters said only a fraction of the meat processing centres authorised to export are operating in the major selling state Uttar Pradesh

India is the world's biggest buffalo meat exporter and April-September shipments fell 13.2 percent from a year ago to 598,901 tonnes, although in value terms they plunged 15.5 percent to $1.89 billion, data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics showed.

Indian sales have also lost out to Brazil, the world's No.2 beef supplier, due to a sharper depreciation in the real currency that has lost 30 percent this year compared to only 3 percent in the rupee.

"Traditionally Vietnam sources most of its meat imports from India due to the freight advantage," said a Mumbai-based exporter. "(But now) even after factoring in our freight advantage, we can't compete with Brazil."

Several Indian exporters, however, are more worried about what could be permanent setbacks to trade as some politicians even call for a complete ban on the meat export industry, which generated about $5 billion in sales last year.