January 5, 2004

Australia Filled 98.6% of 2003 US Beef Quota

Australia filled 98.6% of beef quota from the United States in 2003, which amounts to 378,214 tons. 373,060 tons were cleared at the US customs as at 31 December 2003. 

Lackluster US demand and manufacturing beef import prices in the first half of the year restrained Australian exports to the US to 10% below 2002 levels, with only 42% of the quota filled as at 30 June 2003. 

However, a tightening of US beef supplies combined with strong US domestic demand in the latter half of 2003 lifted import prices and US imports of Australian beef close to quota levels.