14 December 2009

4 minute read

North America

While the sluggish global economy and depressed currencies of many major trading partners have kept beef exports down, October showed promising signs of a rebound. Exports totaled 82,627 metric tons (182.2 million pounds) valued at $274.7 million, the largest monthly volume and third-highest monthly value (slightly behind May and June) of the year.

While still below year-ago levels, October’s beef exports show a 12 per cent increase in volume and five per cent in value over the prior month, and exceed the 2009 monthly average by 11 per cent in volume and 7.5 per cent in value. January-October exports of 743,085 metric tons (1.64 billion pounds) valued at $2.56 billion still lag last year’s pace by 12 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively.

Brazil, the world’s largest beef exporter, has seen its exports slip even more than the US - 15 per cent in volume (no value figures are available). The only major exporter to see significant growth this year is Argentina, and that is due to the government’s relaxation of 2008 export restrictions and a sharp increase in cattle slaughter that led to dramatically lower prices.

“This has been a tough year globally for the beef industry due to the rough economic conditions,” said Philip Seng, USMEF president and CEO. “This year USMEF realigned its resources to put a lot of our emphasis on markets and niches within markets that showed potential for near-term growth, such as the convenience store niche in Japan, and that has helped limit the overall decline even though the strong US dollar made our products relatively more expensive.”

Record US beef exports to the Middle East represent one of the most positive drivers in October, totaling 10,608 metric tons (23.4 million pounds) valued at $14.9 million. This region continues to show a growing appetite for US beef muscle cuts as exports through the first 10 months of the year more than doubled in volume compared to 2008. Egypt, which has long been a stellar market for beef variety meat, has imported nearly 30 times its 2008 volume of US beef muscle cuts.

Japan also continues to outpace 2008 totals by a significant margin. October exports were up 24 per cent in volume and 26 percent in value over October 2008. January-October exports to Japan totaled 78,823 metric tons (173.8 million pounds), valued at $404.9 million – an increase of 22 per cent in both volume and value.

“We are extremely pleased with the growth achieved in Japan, as demand for US beef continues to climb even in difficult economic times,” said Seng. “It’s important to remember that the US industry is limited to exporting beef from cattle 20 months of age or younger, and this age restriction becomes particularly confining in the final months of the year as cattle supply dwindles. There is still tremendous room for growth in Japan if we can gain broader access to the market.”

South Korea, where USMEF has conducted extensive marketing efforts in recent months at both retail and food service, saw imports of US beef reach their highest monthly volume since February - 5,695 metric tons (12.6 million pounds) valued at $20.9 million. While down from October of last year, these results are more than double the September volume and are 90 per cent above the September value.

This month, USMEF launched a major US beef imaging campaign in Korea which seeks to further capitalise on growing consumer demand and a strengthening Korean currency.

Other October highlights for US beef included record exports to Greater China plus Vietnam, as well as the highest 2009 monthly volume of exports to both Russia and Taiwan. Demand in Taiwan appears to be holding up extremely well despite continued negative media coverage surrounding expanded market access for US beef.

Even though beef exports to Mexico, the No. 1 destination for US beef, remain down, there are signs of optimism here as well. October muscle cut exports there were just four per cent below 2008 levels, although variety meat exports were down 39 per cent in volume and 55 per cent in value. For the year, total beef exports to Mexico trail last year’s pace by 27 per cent in volume and 36 per cent in value.

TheCattleSite News Desk