With Expanded Access for U.S. Beef in Saudi Arabia, USMEF Holds Seminars to Grow Demand
Hear/Download the Audio Report HERE.
For more than a decade, U.S. beef faced technical barriers in Saudi Arabia that left only a small fraction of U.S. production eligible for the market. With those obstacles now removed, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) – with support from USDA and the Beef Checkoff Program – is ramping up efforts to reintroduce U.S. beef to importers and other prospective customers in Saudi Arabia.
USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom provides a recap of the BSE-related restrictions that greatly limited opportunities for U.S. beef in this rapidly growing market.
Chef German Navarrete, USMEF’s director of culinary programs, recently traveled to Saudi Arabia to conduct U.S. beef workshops and seminars. He says those participating in these activities were extremely excited at the prospect of having more U.S. beef available in the market.
Since April, when access for U.S. beef was expanded, exports to Saudi Arabia have doubled from a year ago in both volume (575 metric tons) and value ($6.2 million). (Based on monthly USDA export data, April through July.)