The latest live export statistics for March continue to higlight the increasing importance of Middle Eastern markets to Australia’s live export trade.

Livecorp and Meat and Livestock Australia's latest Live Link report released yesterday highlights the extent to which Middle Eastern markets are helping to absorb some of the ground lost to

Indonesia following the introduction of significant import restrictions in that market in June last year.

The restrictions in Indonesia, Australia's largest market, saw exports to Asia in the July 2010-March 2011 fall by 239,501 head.

While growth in other markets during the period has fallen a long way short of covering that loss, growth in the Middle East has certainly helped, with exports there rising by 93,963 head.

Overall shipments for the period to Middle Eastern destinations climbed by 89pc to total 198,587 head, while exports to Asian destinations fell by 37pc to total 404, 851.

Leading the growth in the Middle East was Turkey, which took 98,049 cattle for the July 10-March 11 period. Given that Turkey’s growth has occurred from a zero base in the period, that total represents a spectacular growth figure of 58,253% for the period.

Israel remains the region’s largest importer of Australian live cattle and also recorded strong growth, taking 44,068 cattle for the July 10-Mar 11 period to record a 21% rise on the same period the previous year.

Exports to Egypt grew 43% for the same period to total 23,090, while exports to Saudi Arabia also posted strong growth of 154% to total 19,501.

Growth was also achieved in Asia, with Malaysia taking 2380 cattle in March to take its total for the Jul 2010-Mar 2011 period to 18,192 cattle, 293% higher than its Jul 2009-Mar 2011 numbers.

Overall Australia's total live cattle exports for the July 2010-March 2011 totalled 614,688, a 19% fall from the 759,773 total of the corresponding period the previous year.