Australian beef exports to South East Asia and Greater China totalled 12,300 tonnes during August, a 6pc decrease on the same month last year according to Meat and Livestock Australia.

The fall was attributed mainly to smaller shipments to Indonesia (down 40pc), Malaysia (down 9pc) and the Philippines (down 4pc).

“August was particularly a quiet trading month in Indonesia, where Ramadan celebrations took place 10 days earlier than the previous year. Beef shipments to the market fell 40pc year-on-year,” MLA reported.

Chilled beef exports to the region during August surged 29% on 12 months ago, attributed mainly to the 319pc leap in shipments to Taiwan.

The Taiwan Department of Health maintained the ban on US beef containing a leanness promoting drug.

During the calendar year to August, Australia exported 87,141 tonnes swt of beef to South East Asia and Greater China, 4pc higher than the same period in 2010 – accounting for 14pc of total Australian beef exports.

Shipments to almost all markets increased, with the exception of Indonesia and Hong Kong. Chilled beef shipments to the region during January to August jumped 25pc, to 11,704 tonnes swt, supported by growth to most markets except for Indonesia and the Philippines.