Due to Price Increase of Feeder Cattle from Australia, Indonesian Association asks government to open up opportunities to import from alternative countries

Beef Cattle Farmers Association (Gapuspindo) hopes that the government will open up Feeder Cattle import opportunities for the private sector from other countries such as India, Mexico and Brazil due to Price Increase of Feeder Cattle from Australia. Based on Gapuspindo's records, the import price of male feeder cattle from Australia in November 2021 was at USD 3.65 per kg (CIF) or equivalent to USD 747.95 per kg. After three months, the purchase price for cattle from Australia increased by 24.1% to USD4.53 per kg in February 2022.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) is trying to reduce the price of cattle ready for slaughter at the feedloter level at USD 3.62 per kg of live weight. This step was taken to reduce the selling price of beef at the consumer level. If this price condition remain the same, the importers will object to re-importing feeder cattle from Australia. And this could cause price fluctuations ahead of the 2022 Eid al-Fitr, where consumption for beef in Indonesia is in the highest level each year.