ASEAN
There are opportunities in restaurants and hotels for U.S. beef and pork in markets such as, Vietnam, the Philippines and Singapore. Thanks in part to the USMEF Culinary Training program, chefs from all over the ASEAN region learn to cook with different U.S. meat cuts and increase usage in their restaurants.
Caribbean
Nontraditional cuts, value-added and portion-control items have a strong potential for growth in the retail and foodservice sectors of the resort areas in the Caribbean. Price is a major consideration so USMEF works with chefs to demonstrate how a variety of cuts can be used profitably.
Central And South America
The best market opportunities in Latin America are high quality grain-fed U.S. beef and pork in up-scale hotels and restaurants. Supermarkets have become more interested in U.S. beef and pork due to concentrated USMEF efforts in the past year. The Central America free trade agreement has made it more profitable for U.S. exporters to service this region.
China
Throughout the Hong Kong region, macroeconomic fundamentals (per capita income growth, currency appreciation and per capita consumption increase) positively favor U.S. pork growth and U.S. beef’s return to the regional marketplace. Domestic pork supply shortages could open the door for U.S. pork producers in China, but there are many access issues to overcome.
Europe
There is a growing net beef deficit in Europe because of high per capita beef consumption level and declining production. Although there are strict export requirements, more and more U.S. packers are expanding into Europe. Meanwhile, U.S. pork exports to the region are valued at nearly $30 million in the first seven months of 2007.
Japan
The Japan market has historically been the largest market in world for U.S. beef and beef variety meat. With the reopening of the market in July 2006, USMEF is using its "We Care" campaign to regain consumer and trade confidence. Japan is the top market for U.S. pork and pork variety meat, with a volume of 209,591 metric tons valued at $667.8 million in the first seven months of 2007.
Mexico
Mexico is the No. 1 market for U.S. beef exports. USMEF increases consumer loyalty with retail programs, community efforts and education. USMEF also works to increase education of retail butchers and meat department personnel to ensure U.S. meat is cut and presented with appeal.
Middle East
Business trends for U.S. beef in the Middle East are positive. U.S. beef exports have gained traction in this region with the success of livers in Egypt. More than 55,000 metric tons of U.S. beef variety meat have been exported to Egypt through the first seven months of 2007. The region is the third largest for U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports.
Russia
Before the ban on U.S. beef , Russia was the fifth largest importer of U.S. beef, in particular variety meats such as livers and hearts. U.S. pork and pork variety meat exports to Russia are on the rise as USMEF actively promotes the meat's benefits to chefs and consumers.
South Korea
USMEF expects that U.S. beef will continue to regain market share and market access will improve as U.S. products make it thorugh inspection without delay. Exports of U.S. pork to South Korea have increased dramatically in the past year, now accounting for 23 percent of South Korean total pork imports. Significant increases in domestic pork prices and decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar have fueled the trend, making U.S. pork more appealing.
Taiwan
With a low per capita consumption of beef and a small domestic cattle industry, Taiwan has the potential for strong growth in beef and beef variety meat imports. Taiwan is self-sufficient in pork and the majority of pork meat consumed in Taiwan is derived from domestic production.
