MEDIA RELEASE
Leading Australian livestock exporter Wellard has set a record for the largest amount of cattle of exported by the Company in a financial year.
A total of 389,327 cattle were exported by Wellard in 2014/15, aided by a record month in April 2015 when 54,314 cattle were transported on the company’s vessels, the MV Ocean Outback, the MV Ocean Swagman, the MV Ocean Drover and the MV Ocean Ute.
That April shipping figure easily outpaced the Company’s previous record of 46,000 head set in July 2014, and the FY2015 shipping figure trumped the 318,262 cattle exported by Wellard in 2013/14.
The cattle were shipped to Vietnam, Philippines, China, Indonesia and the Middle East.
Wellard CEO Mauro Balzarini said the annual record was driven by a combination of shipping capacity, increasing trade with Vietnam and strong demand from Indonesia.
“In particular, the addition of the MV Ocean Ute to our shipping fleet has enabled us to meet strong demand from Vietnamese and Indonesian cattle importers, ensuring Wellard continued to provide a competitive marketing option for Australian cattle producers,” he said.
“However, the big numbers form just a component of Wellard’s live export story. The cattle have been transported on vessels that provide optimal animal welfare outcomes to importers who have embraced Australia’s Exporter Supply Chain Assurance Scheme and the animal welfare benefits it can provide.
“Our staff continue to do a great job. The logistics of sourcing, quarantining and shipping so many cattle requires professional and dedicated staff and robust systems and Wellard is proud to have both.”
For further information please contact:
Cameron Morse
Phone: + 61 8 9485 8888
Mobile: +61 (0) 433 886 871