WAMMCO Katanning will close for a three week maintenance break on July 21 to prepare for a busy run through to Christmas.
CEO Coll MacRury said WAMMCO’s Goulburn plant would continue processing to supply the cooperative’s major overseas customers while Katanning was closed.
He said the two plants had processed just over two million lamb and mutton units between them for the 12 months to June 30, with Katanning hitting peak numbers in March this year.
“The Katanning/Goulburn balance gives us a unique advantage that continues to grow as climate, livestock standards and sources, and markets become more complex.
“We are seeing a constant ‘world order’ change, in both supply and demand, with new interest from countries like China and Korea on top of improving improving sales of lamb to UK/Europe and strong sales to North America and the Middle East.
“At the same time there has been considerable ‘repositioning’ in the red meat processing industry, especially in WA, as live sheep exporters take on the option of processed meat exports, and changes take place at Harvey Beef.”
Mr MacRury said Australia’s domestic meat consumers could also expect significant change during a period of increasing global demand.
“Newcomers like ALDI and COSTCO will reshape the local retail landscape over the next few years and we can expect to see stronger demand from these people driving prices higher for chicken and pork as well as beef and lamb.”
He said WAMMCO would continue to use its US connections to capitalise on stable demand for heavy lamb in North America, and on the improving lamb market in UK/Europe, with a strategic spread of sales to the Middle East, China and other emerging buyers.
“Our role is to maximise the returns of our producer members, using rebates where possible to ‘top up’ the year’s livestock price schedules.
“WAMMCO Chairman, Dawson Bradford is expecting to announce the 2013/14 rebate to members at the annual WAMMCO State Carcase Competition at the new Katanning saleyards at 1:30pm on Wednesday, July 16.
Further details: Coll MacRury 0409371295 or Geoff Gare 0414 683 531