January 10, 2008

EU beef trade slowed by competition

The EU beef production fell in the first nine months of 2007 as Brazil posted tough competition on beef shipments going to a key consumer, Russia.

The Meat and Livestock Commission reported that EU beef exports from January to September decreased by 14 percent against the same period in 2006 to 53,000 tonnes.

EU beef imports also recorded a significant fall in frozen volumes during 2007, falling 35 percent, to 100,600 tonnes.

Fresh, chilled imports increased by 13 percent for the January to September months, while total beef imports into the EU-27 were back 14 percent on the same period in 2006, to 228,500 tonnes.