Weekly USMEF Audio Report: US Beef Exports to Asia Looking Very Strong

May 10, 2010 -  With official First Quarter 2010 beef export results due for release by USDA later this week, the outlook looks very bright in key Asian markets. Joel Haggard, USMEF senior vice president for the Asia Pacific region, has been reviewing the latest beef import data for these countries, and reports that U.S. beef is moving at a very strong pace compared to the same period last year.

Japan’s total beef imports have actually declined compared to last year, but its imports from the United States have increased sharply.

Imports from across the globe are up in markets such as South Korea and Hong Kong, but U.S. shipments are rising at a much faster pace than those from other major exporters.

Haggard also notes that Taiwan’s imports of U.S. beef are surging upward, despite the recent controversy over expanded market access. He says U.S. bone-in beef cuts, now allowed after an absence of six years, have been well-accepted in Taiwan.    

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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.

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.