According to the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), US beef exports enjoyed a positive year in 2006 as beef and beef variety meat exports increased 39% in terms of volume to reach 655,920 metric tons and 50% in terms of value to achieve $2.04 billion, compared with 2005.
USMEF manager Erin Daley, said, “Export volume outpaced our forecast by 3% and this growth occurred without market access to Korea, and limited access to Japan.” He added, “Looking at countries with full market access, in other words excluding Korea, Japan, Russia and Hong Kong/China, US beef export volumes in 2006 were 16.5% higher than 2003, prior to the BSE case.” Even including Hong Kong/China, export volumes were 9% higher in 2006 than in 2003 and value increased by 24% compared with 2003.
For the third consecutive year, Mexico led all markets in volume and value, with volume increasing 32% to 371,087 metric tons and value rising 33% to $1.17 billion. Sales to Mexico for the year also topped 2003 by 110% in volume and 133% in value. Beef exports to the Middle East doubled in volume in 2006 compared with 2003 when the market was last open for the whole year. Exports to this region totalled 88,073 metric tons in volume and $113.6 million in value compared with 40,635 metric tons and $80.5 million in 2003.
