Cattle ban steer drop in export

The Port of Broome has confirmed that the number cattle exported in the 2012-13 financial year was less than half the amount recorded in the 12 months prior.

With the 2011 live export ban to Indonesia and the subsequent drop in quotas, West Australian pastoralists saw their industry take a hit.

Figures of head of cattle exported out of Broome Port over the past two years show the extent of the decline.

In the 2011-12 financial year, 20 ships left from the Kimberley town bound for Asian destinations, carrying a total of 70,400 head of cattle.

In the 2012-13 financial year that ended last month, the number of shipments was halved to 10, with only 30,800 head of cattle leaving Broome.

Figures are slightly more favourable in the East Kimberley town of Wyndham, with an increase in the head of cattle that left the port in the past two years.

In the 2011-12 financial year 19,880 head of cattle were loaded for export, increasing to 21,730 in the 2012-13 term. Both periods had eight export vessels leave the port.

The Port of Broome has confirmed that 11,923 head of cattle have or will be loaded for departure in August, with vessels destined for Indonesia and Vietnam.

The MV Sahiwal Express transported 2844 animals earlier this month, while the MV Dareen loaded 5559.

At the time of writing the MV GL Lan Xiu had 2020 head of cattle booked for departure, with the MV Lincoln Express ready to set sail with 1500.