India’s carabeef manufacturing, exports to extend in 2024, says USDA’s Publish

India’s buffalo meat (carabeef) manufacturing and exports are set to extend in 2024, the New Delhi Publish of the US Division of Agriculture’s Overseas Agricultural Service has mentioned. 

In its report for the 2024 market yr (January-December), the Publish estimated buffalo meat consumption at 2.97 million tonnes (mt) in 2024 towards 2.92 mt in 2023. “Indians are rising more and more keen on consuming meat and processed meat merchandise. The best receptivity for carabeef comes from younger customers who’re higher inclined to altering dietary preferences and are extra vitamin aware,” it mentioned. 

Carabeef stays essentially the most inexpensive and nutrition-filled purple meat accessible right now in India, it mentioned. As well as, accelerating disposable revenue, fast-paced urbanisation, simple availability with rising outreach of supermarkets, hypermarkets, and on-line retail sale, and rising consciousness of worldwide cuisines are stimulating greater consumption, the USDA’s Publish mentioned.

Important variable

Domestically, apart from style and preferences, value continues to be a important variable for buffalo meat demand. The Publish mentioned in 2023, the value indexes of varied kinds of meat in India have fluctuated as a result of supply-side components.

Apart from inland fish, all different livestock merchandise have closed at greater costs in November 2023 than at the start of the yr. Based mostly on common value indexes of 2023, aside from poultry (hen), costs for all meat varieties elevated in 2023, it mentioned.

Stating that Indian carabeef exports are gaining momentum, the Publish mentioned the Indian buffalo meat is “price aggressive with different purple meats” and is perceived as being extra pure.

Indian authorities statistics point out that carabeef and carabeef merchandise exports make up nearly 79 per cent of the full animal merchandise exports from India in 2022-2023 (April-March). India’s 2024 buffalo meat exports have been pegged at 1.64 mt, up over 5 per cent from 1.55 mt in 2023.

Exports prime $3b this fiscal

 “Publish’s commerce sources remark that apart from the same old development to export to established worldwide markets, 2023 witnessed a larger than anticipated rise in carabeef and carabeef product exports to Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Jordan, Oman, Philippines, Hong Kong (SAR), Uzbekistan, and Singapore,” it mentioned.

In keeping with information from the Agricultural and Processed Meals Merchandise Export Growth Authority (APEDA), buffalo meat exports throughout the April-January interval of the present fiscal had been 1.08 mt valued at $3.07 billion in contrast with 0.97 mt valued at $2.63 billion. 

The FAS’ Publish mentioned decrease pricing makes Indian-origin carabeef value aggressive, particularly within the center to low-income international locations. “Whereas the common export value/kg of Indian carabeef is $2.05, that of beef and beef merchandise from america, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and Argentina – the highest beef exporters on this planet – are priced at $6.73, $5.81, $5.00, $4.34, and $4.27, respectively (estimated as the worth of export/amount exported, supply Commerce Information Monitor, 2023),” it mentioned. 

The USDA’s arm, nevertheless, got here up with a caveat that political-military upheavals within the Purple and Black Sea areas will restrict some buffalo meat exports as sea freight and insurance coverage charges escalate in response.

Cattle inhabitants to rise a tad

The Publish estimated India’s cattle herd inhabitants, comprising bovine dairy cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus) and the Asian home water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) at 307.42 million head, up marginally from the 2023 herd depend of 307.4 million head.

India’s calf crop is anticipated to rise to 70.6 million head from 70.2 million head in 2023. “This incremental development in calf crop numbers is attributed to bettering animal well being, improved vitamin and a rising emphasis on rising exports of carabeef (i.e., beef derived from the home water buffalo),” it mentioned. 

With the waning of the lumpy pores and skin illness (LSD) in 2023, India’s cattle herd numbers are anticipated to proceed to develop. India is presently the most important exporter of buffalo meat.

In keeping with the Ministry of Meals Processing Industries, buffalo meat makes up for 22 per cent of the meat produced in India. The most important areas for buffalo meat manufacturing are Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab.

For this yr, the Publish estimates a decrease loss and residual determine for the nationwide cattle herd.