South Korea ...
South Korea
Domestic Beef Prices Threatened By Cattle Numbers And Weight And Low Consumption
For most of 2004, the price of South Korea’s domestic Hanwoo beef remained reasonably steady, but USMEF-Korea forecasts that decreased consumption, a larger cattle herd and a slow economy will cause prices to drop early in 2005. The Hanwoo inventory increased to 1.8 million head at the end of 2004 from 1.4 million head in 2003. The carcass weight of Hanwoo cattle has also increased over the last decade — from 282 kg in 1993 to 359 kg in 2004, a 27 percent increase. Those factors threaten an oversupply of domestic beef if the low consumption trend continues into 2005.
On the imported side, the price of New Zealand and Australian beef in Korea has increased 2-5 times when compared to pre-December 2003 prices. The Australian export price of chuck roll in December is $4,800 per metric ton (mt), 2.8 times higher than before the ban on U.S. beef. New Zealand short rib prices are hovering at $9,000 per mt, 4.5 times higher. Although the demand for short ribs has been strong, demand for other cuts is very low.
Imported Beef Gets Implanted Chips
Mobile service provider KTF announced on October 3, 2004 that, in a pilot project pursued jointly with the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, imported beef will be tagged with a radio frequency identification, or RFID, chip. This chip will hold information about the origin of the beef and details of its packaging, quarantine, and distribution processes. Unlike bar codes, RFID chips are wireless and do not require direct contact to be read. These chips will enable government organizations and even consumers to track beef via cell phones if they have an RFID reader installed. In the event of a BSE alert, beef imported from the affected region can be located. Consumers can select a function on their mobile telephone that scans the chip and displays information on the cell phone screen. The company, however, admitted that the system is vulnerable to forgery. Beef could be repackaged with an altered or new chip.
Beef tagging process is the second stage of South Korea’s beef traceability model project. Labels with animal IDs will be placed on boxed beef and packages at retail stores. The agriculture ministry said that a production record of most cattle in model farms had been collected and stored in electronic form, and it will expand the system to packers and processing plants.
New Korean Pork Checkoff Will Fund Advertising In 2005
The 2005 Korea pork checkoff resolution passed on December 2, 2004. A total of 11 billion won ($10.4 million) will be allocated to promote pork consumption and research. The Korea Swine Association (KSW), which is in charge of the pork checkoff system, said that 6 billion won were collected from farmers and the Korean government supplemented this amount with 4.5 billion won. The KSW is planning to use internet and television advertisements to promote unpopular pork cuts such as loin, tenderloin and picnic.
South Korean Beef Imports Down More Than Half In First 11 Months
South Korea imported 145,807 metric tons of beef in the first 11 months of 2004, according to South Korean figures, 51.6 percent less than the same period in 2003. The U.S. share was still 17.2 percent since 25,128 mt of U.S. beef imported prior to the ban cleared customs afterwards. Korean imports of Australian beef totaled 78,014 mt, a 53.5 percent share.
South Korean Pork Imports Up 26.5 Percent In First 11 Months
South Korea imported 158,880 mt of pork in the first 11 months of 2004, a 26.5 percent increase year-on-year. The U.S. pork industry’s share of the import market was 11.3 percent, Canada’s was 22.4 percent and Belgium, Chile and Denmark had 11.6 percent, 13.3 percent and 12.8 percent market share respectively.
Mexico
Reynosa Problems For ‘Frozen Beef Edible Byproducts’
USMEF-Mexico reports that the item the Reynosa border crossing will not accept after January 11 is in fact “frozen beef edible byproducts except for liver and tongue” and not trimmings, as originally reported. USMEF-Mexico is investigating the reason behind this.
South Korea
Domestic Beef Prices Threatened By Cattle Numbers And Weight And Low Consumption
For most of 2004, the price of South Korea’s domestic Hanwoo beef remained reasonably steady, but USMEF-Korea forecasts that decreased consumption, a larger cattle herd and a slow economy will cause prices to drop early in 2005. The Hanwoo inventory increased to 1.8 million head at the end of 2004 from 1.4 million head in 2003. The carcass weight of Hanwoo cattle has also increased over the last decade — from 282 kg in 1993 to 359 kg in 2004, a 27 percent increase. Those factors threaten an oversupply of domestic beef if the low consumption trend continues into 2005.
On the imported side, the price of New Zealand and Australian beef in Korea has increased 2-5 times when compared to pre-December 2003 prices. The Australian export price of chuck roll in December is $4,800 per metric ton (mt), 2.8 times higher than before the ban on U.S. beef. New Zealand short rib prices are hovering at $9,000 per mt, 4.5 times higher. Although the demand for short ribs has been strong, demand for other cuts is very low.
Imported Beef Gets Implanted Chips
Mobile service provider KTF announced on October 3, 2004 that, in a pilot project pursued jointly with the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, imported beef will be tagged with a radio frequency identification, or RFID, chip. This chip will hold information about the origin of the beef and details of its packaging, quarantine, and distribution processes. Unlike bar codes, RFID chips are wireless and do not require direct contact to be read. These chips will enable government organizations and even consumers to track beef via cell phones if they have an RFID reader installed. In the event of a BSE alert, beef imported from the affected region can be located. Consumers can select a function on their mobile telephone that scans the chip and displays information on the cell phone screen. The company, however, admitted that the system is vulnerable to forgery. Beef could be repackaged with an altered or new chip.
Beef tagging process is the second stage of South Korea’s beef traceability model project. Labels with animal IDs will be placed on boxed beef and packages at retail stores. The agriculture ministry said that a production record of most cattle in model farms had been collected and stored in electronic form, and it will expand the system to packers and processing plants.
New Korean Pork Checkoff Will Fund Advertising In 2005
The 2005 Korea pork checkoff resolution passed on December 2, 2004. A total of 11 billion won ($10.4 million) will be allocated to promote pork consumption and research. The Korea Swine Association (KSW), which is in charge of the pork checkoff system, said that 6 billion won were collected from farmers and the Korean government supplemented this amount with 4.5 billion won. The KSW is planning to use internet and television advertisements to promote unpopular pork cuts such as loin, tenderloin and picnic.
South Korean Beef Imports Down More Than Half In First 11 Months
South Korea imported 145,807 metric tons of beef in the first 11 months of 2004, according to South Korean figures, 51.6 percent less than the same period in 2003. The U.S. share was still 17.2 percent since 25,128 mt of U.S. beef imported prior to the ban cleared customs afterwards. Korean imports of Australian beef totaled 78,014 mt, a 53.5 percent share.
South Korean Pork Imports Up 26.5 Percent In First 11 Months
South Korea imported 158,880 mt of pork in the first 11 months of 2004, a 26.5 percent increase year-on-year. The U.S. pork industry’s share of the import market was 11.3 percent, Canada’s was 22.4 percent and Belgium, Chile and Denmark had 11.6 percent, 13.3 percent and 12.8 percent market share respectively.
Mexico
Reynosa Problems For ‘Frozen Beef Edible Byproducts’
USMEF-Mexico reports that the item the Reynosa border crossing will not accept after January 11 is in fact “frozen beef edible byproducts except for liver and tongue” and not trimmings, as originally reported. USMEF-Mexico is investigating the reason behind this.