ID :
31031
Wed, 11/19/2008 - 09:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/31031
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea becomes largest export market for U.S. beef: report
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea became the largest export market for U.S.
beef in September as local buyers moved to stockpile the meat in anticipation of
greater demand down the road, a report said Wednesday.
The report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed exports
to South Korea reaching US$89.24 million or 28 percent of the total for the cited
month.
The top ranking comes just three months after Seoul lifted its ban on U.S. beef
imposed in late 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was reported.
A new import deal signed in April sparked massive protests by concerned consumers
here, prompting Seoul and Washington to limit imports to meat from animals under
30 months old. The rules went into effect on June 26.
The USDA report showed shipments sent to South Korea exceeded those for Mexico
and Canada, the second and third largest importers of U.S. beef, and the $29.70
million bought by Japan, which had been the largest market in Asia this year.
Mexico imported $77.91 million worth of U.S. beef, while Canada bought $58.93
million in September.
Mexico was the largest importer in terms of volume at 18,046 tons in the month,
compared to 16,642 tons for South Korea, although exports to the latter were more
expensive, premium cuts that fetched higher prices.
For the whole of this year, South Korea came in fourth after Mexico, Canada and
Japan by importing a total of $158.46 million worth of U.S. beef. The import
amount is high, given that the country imported no U.S. beef for the first six
months of the year.
On the sharp September increase, the local office of the US Meat Export
Federation (USMEF) said many importers have started stockpiling meat as major
retail outlets and department stores are considering putting the products on
their store shelves.
Large retailers had not sold U.S. beef out of concerns for negative publicity and
possible protests by civic groups, but there have been recent moves to reevaluate
this stance.
"This explains the surge in import orders and limited number of local stores and
restaurants that handle U.S. beef," a USMEF spokesperson said. He added that most
of the meat imported so far is still in storage.
In a related development, the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service
said that as of Tuesday, U.S. beef that cleared customs since September reached
32,628 tons versus 22,400 tons for Australian beef, previously the best sellers
in the country since 2004.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
beef in September as local buyers moved to stockpile the meat in anticipation of
greater demand down the road, a report said Wednesday.
The report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed exports
to South Korea reaching US$89.24 million or 28 percent of the total for the cited
month.
The top ranking comes just three months after Seoul lifted its ban on U.S. beef
imposed in late 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was reported.
A new import deal signed in April sparked massive protests by concerned consumers
here, prompting Seoul and Washington to limit imports to meat from animals under
30 months old. The rules went into effect on June 26.
The USDA report showed shipments sent to South Korea exceeded those for Mexico
and Canada, the second and third largest importers of U.S. beef, and the $29.70
million bought by Japan, which had been the largest market in Asia this year.
Mexico imported $77.91 million worth of U.S. beef, while Canada bought $58.93
million in September.
Mexico was the largest importer in terms of volume at 18,046 tons in the month,
compared to 16,642 tons for South Korea, although exports to the latter were more
expensive, premium cuts that fetched higher prices.
For the whole of this year, South Korea came in fourth after Mexico, Canada and
Japan by importing a total of $158.46 million worth of U.S. beef. The import
amount is high, given that the country imported no U.S. beef for the first six
months of the year.
On the sharp September increase, the local office of the US Meat Export
Federation (USMEF) said many importers have started stockpiling meat as major
retail outlets and department stores are considering putting the products on
their store shelves.
Large retailers had not sold U.S. beef out of concerns for negative publicity and
possible protests by civic groups, but there have been recent moves to reevaluate
this stance.
"This explains the surge in import orders and limited number of local stores and
restaurants that handle U.S. beef," a USMEF spokesperson said. He added that most
of the meat imported so far is still in storage.
In a related development, the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service
said that as of Tuesday, U.S. beef that cleared customs since September reached
32,628 tons versus 22,400 tons for Australian beef, previously the best sellers
in the country since 2004.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
