US aims to eat into Australia’s market share
02/03/2009
US beef sales to Japan, the industry’s third- largest importer, may increase by 35% this year as the stronger yen reduces prices and boosts demand, the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has said.
Exports, including meat from internal organs, may rise to about 100,000 tonnes from 74,000 tonnes last year, said Philip Seng, USMEF’s president and chief executive officer. The yen jumped 23% against the dollar in 2008.
Japan banned imports of US beef in 2003 after BSE occurred in Washington state. Imports last fiscal year were 85% below the levels that the industry enjoyed before trade was disrupted, according to Japan’s ministry of agriculture.
“We are still required to provide cattle under the age of 20 months, and we see this as a limiting factor on our exports,” Mr Seng told reporters in Tokyo during a promotional tour. “We are hoping our two governments will be able to resolve this issue in the very near future. [Nevertheless], taking advantage of a stronger yen, we are projecting close to 100,000 tonnes of beef exports in 2009.”
Japan’s total beef market contracted 0.6% in 2008 from a year earlier to 822,598 tonnes, of which imported meat accounted for 458,556 tonnes or 56%, USMEF said. Australia was the largest overseas supplier with a 44% market share, followed by the US and New Zealand.
Share this story:
