Canadian beef exports set to rise
Canadian beef exports are set to grow this year if predictions from the Canadian Beef Export Federation (FNR) are accurate. The country’s beef and veal exports are expected to total 420,700 tonnes compared with 378,499 tonnes in 2009.
The federation also has high expectations for the longer term. Beef exports are expected to hit 437,000 tonnes by 2015 and to 450,000 tonnes by 2020. The FNR also expects China and South Korea to reopen their doors to Canadian beef in the next few years.
The country’s top export destination for beef is the US, but the organisation is taking into account a decline in demand from the US market. It believes exporters will begin to grow sales in other countries in order to reduce their reliance on the US. The report predicts 306,000 tonnes will be exported to the US by the end of 2010, but that this number will fall to 300,000 tonnes in 2015 and to 292,000 tonnes in 2020. Asian countries and Mexico are expected to bridge the gap. Japan allowed Canada to start exporting beef to the country in 2006, having banned exports in 2003. This year’s exports to Japan are likely to total 13,900 tonnes compared with 10,277 tonnes in 2009.
