7501.0 - Value of Principal Agricultural Commodities Produced, Australia, Preliminary, 2014-15 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 18/12/2015   
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MEDIA RELEASE
18 December 2015
Embargo: 11.30 am (Canberra time)
149/2015

International demand boosts value of agricultural products

Strong international demand has contributed to an increase in the gross value of a number of livestock categories, according to figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today.

Ms Katie Hutt, Director of Rural Environment and Agricultural Statistics at the ABS, said total livestock disposals had increased by 27 per cent in the year ending June 2015.

“The gross value of disposals of cattle and calves in Australia increased rapidly from $8.5 billion in 2013-14 to $11.5 billion in 2014-15. Strong international demand has resulted in higher prices for cattle products, providing an incentive for farmers to slaughter a greater proportion of their herd," said Ms Hutt.

“For sheep and lambs, the gross value of disposals also increased, up 25 per cent to $3.3 billion. A high rate of disposals during spring in 2014-15, leading to lower lamb numbers in the 2014-15 summer, contributed to the increase,” said Ms Hutt.

The gross value of wheat and canola declined in the 2014-15 year with production in Western Australia returning to a more normal level. Comparatively, sorghum and oats have seen an increase in gross value.

“Sorghum's 70 per cent increase in gross value can be attributed to an increase in production with more area devoted to cultivating this crop, and a continuing 5 yearly high price.”

Preliminary data from the 2014-15 Value of Agricultural Commodities Produced Collection are released at national, state and territory level. Final data will be released in mid-2016.

Media note:

  • When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (or ABS) must be attributed as the source.
  • Media requests and interviews - contact the ABS Communications Section on 1300 175 070.
  • Livestock disposals are defined as domestic slaughtering and exports of live animals.