Egypt Imposes Restrictions on Beef from India, Increasing Opportunities for U.S. Variety Meat ...
Egypt Imposes Restrictions on Beef from India, Increasing Opportunities for U.S. Variety Meat
Last week Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture banned all imports of beef livers, kidneys and hearts from India. After inspections by Egyptian veterinarians, only 14 Indian plants are eligible to export frozen meat to Egypt. The eligible Indian plants cannot produce for any other country when they are producing for export to Egypt and are required to notify the Egyptian General Organization for Veterinary Services of the names of Egyptian importers intending to import from their facilities.
Egypt was the third-largest volume market for U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports in 2008, totalling nearly 80,000 metric tons (176.3 million pounds) valued at $93.3 million. Through the first quarter of this year, beef muscle cuts exports to Egypt have increased substantially compared to 2008 but variety meat exports have declined by about 14 percent in volume and 25 percent in value.
“USMEF representatives in the Middle East feel the new restrictions on variety meat and manufacturing beef from India could represent a significant opportunity for U.S. beef, particularly for variety meat,” said John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. “With muscle cut exports to the Middle East already on the rise this year, a boost in variety meat exports to Egypt would further solidify this region as a leading destination for U.S. beef.”
According to Global Trade Atlas data, Egypt became the fourth-largest destination for India’s beef exports last year, accounting for almost 10 percent of India’s beef export value. At $109 million, Egypt’s beef imports from India represented nearly a ten-fold increase over 2006. India was the second-largest supplier of beef to Egypt in terms of value last year (behind Brazil) and third-largest in terms of volume (trailing only Brazil and the United States).
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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.
Egypt Imposes Restrictions on Beef from India, Increasing Opportunities for U.S. Variety Meat
Last week Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture banned all imports of beef livers, kidneys and hearts from India. After inspections by Egyptian veterinarians, only 14 Indian plants are eligible to export frozen meat to Egypt. The eligible Indian plants cannot produce for any other country when they are producing for export to Egypt and are required to notify the Egyptian General Organization for Veterinary Services of the names of Egyptian importers intending to import from their facilities.
Egypt was the third-largest volume market for U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports in 2008, totalling nearly 80,000 metric tons (176.3 million pounds) valued at $93.3 million. Through the first quarter of this year, beef muscle cuts exports to Egypt have increased substantially compared to 2008 but variety meat exports have declined by about 14 percent in volume and 25 percent in value.
“USMEF representatives in the Middle East feel the new restrictions on variety meat and manufacturing beef from India could represent a significant opportunity for U.S. beef, particularly for variety meat,” said John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. “With muscle cut exports to the Middle East already on the rise this year, a boost in variety meat exports to Egypt would further solidify this region as a leading destination for U.S. beef.”
According to Global Trade Atlas data, Egypt became the fourth-largest destination for India’s beef exports last year, accounting for almost 10 percent of India’s beef export value. At $109 million, Egypt’s beef imports from India represented nearly a ten-fold increase over 2006. India was the second-largest supplier of beef to Egypt in terms of value last year (behind Brazil) and third-largest in terms of volume (trailing only Brazil and the United States).
# # #
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.