Australian frozen beef exports surge

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Growing demand for cheap protein from Asia and the Middle East is prompting a surge in frozen beef exports from Australia, reports Queensland Country Life. In the first quarter of 2013, frozen beef export volumes grew 8% year-on-year and were 15%   up on the five-year average, reaching 165,387 tonnes swt. Exports to Korea jumped 22%, while the Middle East imported twice the volume of frozen beef than this time last year. China received 24,934 tonnes swt of frozen product between January and March, compared to less than 1000 tonnes swt for the same period in 2012. Frozen beef now makes up 74% of all Australian beef exports, versus 69% in 2005.