U.S. exports of beef muscle cuts were higher during the first half of 2002 th...

U.S. exports of beef muscle cuts were higher during the first half of 2002 than in 2001, but a decline in beef variety meat sales pushed total beef exports 3 percent lower, to 601,713 metric tons (mt), according to USDA statistics.

The U.S. Meat Export Federation notes that the value of U.S. beef exports was hit by a weak dollar, low U.S. prices and a decline in sales to Japan that encouraged lower-priced sales to other markets, such as South Korea.

Exports of U.S. beef muscle cuts through June were 7 percent higher in volume (397,876 mt) but 5 percent lower in value ($1.229 billion), when compared to the first half of 2001, USMEF said.

A 30 percent decline in the volume of exports to Japan (120,380 mt) was offset by significant increases to South Korea (up 111 percent to 103,902 mt), Mexico (up 17 percent to 97,934 mt), Canada (up 4 percent to 40,766 mt), China/Hong Kong (up 88 percent to 10,349 mt) and Taiwan (up 32 percent to 7,447 mt).

The depressed Japanese beef variety meats market, which is a major outlet for U.S. beef tongues and intestines, fell 52 percent, to 46,234 mt, and pushed worldwide exports 18 percent lower, to 203,837 mt. Beef variety meat exports increased to the other top markets – Mexico, Russia, the Middle East, South Korea and China. The U.S. dominates the Russian beef liver market, providing 84 percent of all liver imports according to the most recent Russian statistics (Jan.-May).

The U.S. Meat Export Federation 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, sorghum and soybean checkoff programs.

-- USMEF --