U.S. Beef Draws Strong Interest at Gulfood 2010
U.S. Beef Draws Strong Interest at Gulfood 2010
Gulfood 2010, the Middle East’s largest food and beverage industry trade show, is off and running this week in Dubai. This year’s theme of “Bigger, Better, Business” is particularly applicable to U.S. beef, as a record 18 suppliers are on hand to exhibit products. Gulfood 2010 has been billed as the largest exhibition in this event’s 23-year history, with more than 45,000 industry professionals expected to be in attendance over four days (Feb. 21-24).
USMEF’s John Brook (second from left) and Simon Bakht (third from left) network with prospective buyers at Gulfood 2010 in Dubai
The Middle East has long been a mainstay for U.S. beef variety meat, but interest in U.S. muscle cuts is exploding – especially in Egypt. In 2009, beef muscle cut exports to Egypt increased by more than 600 percent in volume (to 14,277 metric tons or 31.48 million pounds) and nearly 500 percent in value (to $23.5 million) over the previous year. For the region as a whole, muscle cut exports doubled in volume and increased by nearly one-third in value over 2008. Despite a sluggish global market for variety meat, combined U.S. beef/beef variety meat exports to the Middle East achieved 7 percent growth in volume in 2009 while remaining steady in value.
“Beef supplies from South America are becoming more restricted and their prices – especially Brazil’s – have recently been on the rise,” said John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. “So we’re seeing increasing opportunities for U.S. rounds and even a growing demand for forequarter cuts.”
Brook added that in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the food industry does not appear to be overly shaken by recent concerns raised about the financial condition of Dubai World, the country’s enormous construction consortium.
“Retailers and restaurants are very optimistic that this year will bring significant growth when compared to 2009,” he said. “Some individual suppliers are predicting that their business in the region could grow by as much as 20 percent.”
USMEF’s presence at Gulfood 2010 is made possible through support from the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Beef Checkoff Program.
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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.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.
U.S. Beef Draws Strong Interest at Gulfood 2010
Gulfood 2010, the Middle East’s largest food and beverage industry trade show, is off and running this week in Dubai. This year’s theme of “Bigger, Better, Business” is particularly applicable to U.S. beef, as a record 18 suppliers are on hand to exhibit products. Gulfood 2010 has been billed as the largest exhibition in this event’s 23-year history, with more than 45,000 industry professionals expected to be in attendance over four days (Feb. 21-24).
USMEF’s John Brook (second from left) and Simon Bakht (third from left) network with prospective buyers at Gulfood 2010 in Dubai
The Middle East has long been a mainstay for U.S. beef variety meat, but interest in U.S. muscle cuts is exploding – especially in Egypt. In 2009, beef muscle cut exports to Egypt increased by more than 600 percent in volume (to 14,277 metric tons or 31.48 million pounds) and nearly 500 percent in value (to $23.5 million) over the previous year. For the region as a whole, muscle cut exports doubled in volume and increased by nearly one-third in value over 2008. Despite a sluggish global market for variety meat, combined U.S. beef/beef variety meat exports to the Middle East achieved 7 percent growth in volume in 2009 while remaining steady in value.
“Beef supplies from South America are becoming more restricted and their prices – especially Brazil’s – have recently been on the rise,” said John Brook, USMEF regional director for Europe, Russia and the Middle East. “So we’re seeing increasing opportunities for U.S. rounds and even a growing demand for forequarter cuts.”
Brook added that in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the food industry does not appear to be overly shaken by recent concerns raised about the financial condition of Dubai World, the country’s enormous construction consortium.
“Retailers and restaurants are very optimistic that this year will bring significant growth when compared to 2009,” he said. “Some individual suppliers are predicting that their business in the region could grow by as much as 20 percent.”
USMEF’s presence at Gulfood 2010 is made possible through support from the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Beef Checkoff Program.
# # #
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.
For more information, contact Jim Herlihy at jherlihy@usmef.org.
USMEF complies with all equal opportunity, non-discrimination and affirmative action measures applicable to it by contract, government rule or regulation or as otherwise provided by law.