Hong Kong                                  ...

Hong Kong                                                                                 

Opening Of Market To Canadians Increases Optimism For U.S. Beef

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) expressed its optimism that similar terms of market access will soon be re-established for the import of U.S. beef to Hong Kong as those accorded on Tuesday to Canadian beef exporters.

“As competitors in the international market, we are obviously disappointed with the commercial implications of the decision, since it clearly provides sales opportunities at the expense of U.S. exporters. On the other hand, and more importantly, we are pleased that following the conclusion of extensive risk-analysis processes, the Hong Kong authorities are allowing imports of some categories of Canadian beef products, which we believe carry similar low-risk levels as U.S. beef,” said Joel Haggard, USMEF Vice President, Asia Pacific in a press release issued December 2.

“U.S. beef is produced under the world’s strictest regulations that exceed standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health. The U.S. government has built five firewalls that effectively prevent any unsafe beef from entering the market. We are hopeful that we can convince the Hong Kong government to grant similar market access to U.S. beef as that accorded Canadian beef,” Haggard said.

Haggard pointed out in a free market like Hong Kong, high-quality U.S. beef is the product of choice for thousands of Hong Kong restaurants, steakhouses and retail outlets. According to Government figures, Hong Kong imported HK$622 million of U.S. beef products in 2003, compared to HK$4.8 million of Canadian beef in the same year.

“The suspension of U.S. beef imports in December 2003 has created difficulties and uncertainties for the local catering industry as well as limiting consumers’ choices. With the one-year anniversary of the U.S. beef import suspension approaching, I hope that remaining technical issues can be resolved shortly so that we can resume exports of high quality safe U.S. beef in the very near future,” said Haggard.

South Korea                                                                               

South Korean Beef Imports Down More Than Half In First Ten Months

South Korea imported 134,075 metric tons of beef in the first ten months of 2004, according to South Korean figures, 51.2 percent less than the same period in 2003. The U.S. share was still 18.3 percent since 24,549 mt of U.S. beef imported prior to the ban cleared customs afterwards. Korean imports of Australian beef totaled 69,958 mt, a 52.2 percent share.

Despite the decline in Korean beef imports, USMEF-Korea reports, domestic cattle slaughter has not increased. According to an agriculture ministry, October slaughter totaled 42,975 head, 45.5 percent less than September and 0.4 percent less than October 2003. Slaughter of dairy cattle, however, was 27.9 percent higher than the same month last year.

The Korea Rural Economic Institute surveyed housewives in seven major cities and found that the announcement of the lone U.S. bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) case was the major reason behind a fall in beef consumption.    The survey concluded that it is premature to decide that the beef consumption pattern has changed in 2004 and predicted that the demand for domestic beef will recover soon. The survey found consumers choosing pork in restaurants was up from 59.2 percent in 1999 to 67.1 percent, while beef had gone from 35.1 percent to 23.7 percent.

South Korean Pork Imports Up 41.3 Percent In First Ten Months

South Korea imported 140,284 mt of pork in the first ten months of 2004, a 41.3 percent increase year-on-year. The U.S. pork industry’s share of the import market was 11.4 percent, Canada’s was 22.3 percent and Belgium, Chile and Denmark had 12.1 percent, 13.2 percent and 22.3 percent market share respectively.

Hong Kong                                                                                 

Opening Of Market To Canadians Increases Optimism For U.S. Beef

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) expressed its optimism that similar terms of market access will soon be re-established for the import of U.S. beef to Hong Kong as those accorded on Tuesday to Canadian beef exporters.

“As competitors in the international market, we are obviously disappointed with the commercial implications of the decision, since it clearly provides sales opportunities at the expense of U.S. exporters. On the other hand, and more importantly, we are pleased that following the conclusion of extensive risk-analysis processes, the Hong Kong authorities are allowing imports of some categories of Canadian beef products, which we believe carry similar low-risk levels as U.S. beef,” said Joel Haggard, USMEF Vice President, Asia Pacific in a press release issued December 2.

“U.S. beef is produced under the world’s strictest regulations that exceed standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health. The U.S. government has built five firewalls that effectively prevent any unsafe beef from entering the market. We are hopeful that we can convince the Hong Kong government to grant similar market access to U.S. beef as that accorded Canadian beef,” Haggard said.

Haggard pointed out in a free market like Hong Kong, high-quality U.S. beef is the product of choice for thousands of Hong Kong restaurants, steakhouses and retail outlets. According to Government figures, Hong Kong imported HK$622 million of U.S. beef products in 2003, compared to HK$4.8 million of Canadian beef in the same year.

“The suspension of U.S. beef imports in December 2003 has created difficulties and uncertainties for the local catering industry as well as limiting consumers’ choices. With the one-year anniversary of the U.S. beef import suspension approaching, I hope that remaining technical issues can be resolved shortly so that we can resume exports of high quality safe U.S. beef in the very near future,” said Haggard.

South Korea                                                                               

South Korean Beef Imports Down More Than Half In First Ten Months

South Korea imported 134,075 metric tons of beef in the first ten months of 2004, according to South Korean figures, 51.2 percent less than the same period in 2003. The U.S. share was still 18.3 percent since 24,549 mt of U.S. beef imported prior to the ban cleared customs afterwards. Korean imports of Australian beef totaled 69,958 mt, a 52.2 percent share.

Despite the decline in Korean beef imports, USMEF-Korea reports, domestic cattle slaughter has not increased. According to an agriculture ministry, October slaughter totaled 42,975 head, 45.5 percent less than September and 0.4 percent less than October 2003. Slaughter of dairy cattle, however, was 27.9 percent higher than the same month last year.

The Korea Rural Economic Institute surveyed housewives in seven major cities and found that the announcement of the lone U.S. bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) case was the major reason behind a fall in beef consumption.    The survey concluded that it is premature to decide that the beef consumption pattern has changed in 2004 and predicted that the demand for domestic beef will recover soon. The survey found consumers choosing pork in restaurants was up from 59.2 percent in 1999 to 67.1 percent, while beef had gone from 35.1 percent to 23.7 percent.

South Korean Pork Imports Up 41.3 Percent In First Ten Months

South Korea imported 140,284 mt of pork in the first ten months of 2004, a 41.3 percent increase year-on-year. The U.S. pork industry’s share of the import market was 11.4 percent, Canada’s was 22.3 percent and Belgium, Chile and Denmark had 12.1 percent, 13.2 percent and 22.3 percent market share respectively.