Implications for Australian agricultural exporters

17 May 2023 Kuwait has extended the shelf-life limit of chilled vacuum-packed beef from 90 days to 120 days. The extension was applied on 10 November 2022. This comes after shelf-life extensions by other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia (Table 1). Other Gulf States are also considering extending the shelf-life of chilled vacuum-packed meat. Extended shelf-life for vacuum-packed meat reduces freight costs by enabling Australian chilled meat to be shipped via sea rather than air freight. Depending on the destination and consignment weight, air freight can be 5-10 times more expensive than sea freight. Longer shelf life also allows products to remain on sale for longer. This leads to reduced wastage and higher returns for retailers. Producers and exporters should contact their Middle Eastern importers or Austrade to explore potential opportunities for meat exports to Kuwait and the broader region. They should continue to monitor the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries ...