NAB Regional Agribusiness Manager, Northern Territory and South East QLD, Mark McNamara interviews panelists Justin Slaughter from Austrex, Marie Piconne from Manbulloo Mangoes, Luke Bowen from the NT Government and NAB economist Phin Ziebell, during last night’s NAB Export and Trade forum.

A FEW years ago the-then Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association President David Warriner told the association’s annual conference in Darwin that sustained prices of 300c/kg were needed to maintain the viability of grassfed cattle production in northern Australia.

As we now know, that wish was soon delivered, with prices reaching up to 385c/kg last year and 370-380c/kg again during the recent wet season.

As initial first-round musters commence from the start of April next week – many will be delayed because by the very wet wet-season just completed – and the seasonal supply tap turns on, the new season market for live export steers appears to have found an opening level around 340c-345c/kg ex-Darwin.

The question on everyone’s mind as the northern cattle industry comes together for this year’s NTCA’s annual conference in Darwin this morning, is whether those prices can remain.

It was certainly a question that dominated attentions at an export and trade forum hosted by NAB at the Darwin Convention Centre last night.

Roy Chisholm, Napperby Station, Alice Springs (right) with NAB’s Tony Vercoe, Brisbane.

Another former NTCA chair, Roy Chisholm from Napperby Station at Alice Springs, noted an historical rule of thumb that suggests when Australia’s cattle population gets below 27 million head, cattle prices go up, and when it grows above that level, the market goes down.

NAB’s agribusiness economist Phin Ziebell said it was hard to see cattle prices Australia-wide maintaining current heights for an extended period of time.

While the herd was very depleted, the high price of cattle was impinging on the ability of some producers to restock, especially those who had been forced to destock in drought from 2011-2014 when cattle prices were much lower.

Formidable competition from South America – Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina which removed its stifling export tariffs last year – pointed to an ultra-competitive global market place.

NAB agribusiness economist Phin Ziebell with Collier’s Robert Hancock.

NAB’s view on the currency is that the Australian dollar will soften to around US70c by the end of the year (currently 76.7c), but not enough to provide a significant boost for exports.

He said he sees the EYCI finishing the year at around 500c/kg cwt, down from its current level of 649.75c.

“The real question in the back of my mind is South America and how well they are going to be able to capitalise,” Mr Ziebell said.

He added though that while Australian beef exports to China had not fulfilled strong early potential, there still appeared to be upside in that market for Australia.

Agricultural economist and former Federal Government trade minister Andrew Robb headlines today’s NTCA conference program in Darwin.

He will talk about challenges and opportunities for increasing beef exports into Asia, particularly China, emphasise the importance of building relationships and supply chains, and will focus on the importance of foreign capital investment in the northern beef industry.

Catching up in Darwin were Justin Slaughter, Austrex; Luke Bowen, NT Government and former CEO of the NTCA; and Peter Watkins, Australian AgAdvisory & Management, Rockhampton.

Other conference speakers include Rabobank’s senior Brazil-based analyst Adolfo Fontes – see his earlier interview with Beef Central here, regular Beef Central columnist Dr Ross Ainsworth and Andrew Simpson from Meat & Livestock Australia.

A panel discussion in the afternoon will cover many of the vital issues facing pastoralists, including the Beetaloo Basin shale gas project, diversification on cattle stations, water policy, live exports versus processing, and positioning the NT industry for prosperity.

Stay tuned for more reports from James Nason out of Darwin.